The important yachting industry in Malta is being discriminated against as other countries which have similar frameworks are not being targeted by the European Commission, the main representative bodies of the sector said.

They were referring to the recent Notice of Infringement sent to Malta by EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovici in connection with yacht leases.

Read: Malta in hot water over VAT on yachts

“Malta yacht lease structures have always been set up in line with EU laws, based on practices tried and tested in other member states as explained by the Malta guidelines,” the Yachting Services Trade Section within the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta Maritime Law Association, the Malta Maritime Forum and the Super Yacht Industry Network Malta argued in a joint statement.

“The industry therefore questions why such a notice of alleged infringement is being sent at all. Even more so when it is evident that no similar notice was sent to Member States which apply the same principle under the VAT directive in an identical manner to Malta, such as France and Italy. If no notice of infringement was sent to France and Italy why therefore is one being sent to Malta, Cyprus and Greece?”

The entities said they would fully support the Maltese government in contesting the infringement action, adding that the important sector did not only help the island but the whole
EU yachting eco system.

“It is vital that the EU authorities continue to recognise and encourage this contribution in line with the EU maritime policy,” they said.