A one-size-fits-all approach to EU funding and taxation issues did not and could not always work, especially when taking the country’s insularity and economies of scale into consideration, Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said on Tuesday.

Speaking to business leaders, stakeholders and representatives of the industry during a business breakfast alongside European Commission’s vice-president Jyrki Katainen, Dr Metsola said she wanted to see a bigger uptake of EU funds from businesses, and it was important that bureaucracy was reduced to ensure funds would be available to firms which did not have the clout or size of other EU companies.

She insisted on the need for an EU regulatory environment for Maltese businesses to grow.

“I reiterate our concern as a nation with the moves towards tax harmonisation on a European level or any attempt to remove the concept of unanimity on this issue. The effect of this on the Maltese industry would be huge and disproportionate,” she said.

Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia spoke on the challenges faced by businesses in their attempts to access EU funding. He insisted that besides investing in businesses, the EU, as well as its member states, should ensure proper investment in students.

European Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen took note of business leaders and stakeholders who spoke about their challenges, especially in relation to the uptake of EU funding.

He promised to take note of all the remarks made during the development of new funding opportunities for businesses and supplied information about the InvestEU Programme, which as from 2021, would bring together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments.

Commissioner Katainen also praised MEP Metsola for organising the meeting, saying it was an example of how MEPs should work: bridging the gap between policy makers and citizens.