Business delegation obtains first-hand information on accession negotiations in Brussels

A delegation of 18 businessmen and permanent representatives from the Malta Federation of Industry and the Malta Chamber of Commerce held an intensive three-day visit to Brussels last week.

This time round, the delegation was largely composed of representatives of small companies, in contrast with a previous visit last June to which participants emanated mostly from larger firms.

The delegation held important meetings with several key EU officials involved in the accession negotiations between Malta and the European Union. FOI president Joseph Zammit Tabona and Chamber president Reginald Fava headed the delegation.

This was the sixth visit of this type organised in the past three years by the Malta Business Foundation as the local business community strives to remain at the forefront of information and communication regarding the country's EU accession negotiations.

The visits are also aimed at supporting the cause of Maltese business and industry in these negotiations through active lobbying on members' behalf to ensure a successful accession package.

To this end, meetings were held with the Ambassador of Malta to the EU, Victor Camilleri, who also forms part of Malta's Core Negotiating Group, and was therefore well placed to update the delegation on the latest developments.

A subsequent meeting was held with the Malta team within DG Enlargement including: Michael Leigh, director DG Enlargement; Ahri Palosuo, head of Unit; Lars Erik Forsberg and Waddah Saab.

Further meetings were held with key figures within the Competition, Social, Agriculture, Regional Policy and Environment directorates general. The delegation also met with officials from the Danish Presidency and the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the EU.

At these meetings, it was possible for the delegation to discuss those issues that are important to industry in Malta under the final remaining chapters of the EU acquis that are currently under negotiation, particularly Competition, Agriculture and Taxation.

This latest visit also coincided with a visit to Brussels by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, who gave a speech entitled "Malta's EU membership: How and Why" at a special mid-day meeting organised by the influential Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre in Brussels.

The visit of part of the delegation was kindly sponsored by funding provided by the Delegation of the European Communities in Malta after talks were held with Ronald Gallimore, European Ambassador for Malta.