EU leaders are expected to agree that more should be done by individual member states to put in place crucial reforms in pensions and healthcare.

Draft Council Conclusions seen by Times of Malta state that while recognising the efforts made by member states to address their Country Specific Recommendations given to each member states last year, progress needs to be stepped up on two important issues: Pensions and healthcare.

The two issues have been also recommended to Malta last year and are considered as top priority for the island’s long-term stability of its public finances. However, despite the commissioning of reports, little or nothing has been concretely done during the past year to address these issues.

EU leaders, meeting in Brussels for their mid-term EU summit, are also expected to endorse conclusions on industrial competitiveness, reach final agreement on the savings tax directive following six years of discussions and agree on the way forward on climate change and energy.

Member states are insisting on setting new renewable energy targets for 2030, as it is almost taken for granted that many member states will be able to meet the EU 2020 target to have 20 per cent on energy consumption produced from renewable sources. The new target for 2030 is expected to be set for 27 per cent although no national targets will be established for the time being.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat arrived at the summit this afternoon.