MHRA stands by its EU findings

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association yesterday stressed that the process leading to it having decided to take a pro-EU stand was as "objective, scientific and credible" as possible.

The MHRA council members met yesterday after Labour tourism spokesman Karmenu Vella hit out at the association's decision when he spoke in parliament on Wednesday.

During a one-day Decision Time conference on Tuesday, the MHRA also published the results of a survey which showed overwhelming support for membership.

In a statement signed by all its council members, the MHRA said that the current council, as well as the four preceding councils, under three different presidents, were given ample time and opportunity to analyse the various documents prepared for them relating to membership.

The process was under the management of the MHRA's EU consultant Natalie Ann Flynn, an expert in this field, the association said.

"The current president, Winston Zahra, did not influence in any way shape or form the outcome of the council's unanimous vote in favour of EU accession, taken last Friday."

Each individual council member stated yesterday that the decision was taken in "full freedom".

The incumbent council was given ample time and opportunity to read through, comment and objectively analyse the final three reports relating to VAT and the euro, social policy and consumer protection and standards, the association said.

The council expressed its full confidence in the professional approach taken to the preparation and compilation of the final three reports that were commissioned to the firm EuropAdvise last August 2002.

It also expressed full confidence in the professional credibility of Gabriella Pace, Lino Briguglio, Gordon Cordina and Adrian Borg who were entrusted with the preparation of the reports.

The three studies concluded that Malta could potentially lose up to 19.5 per cent of its tourism revenue if it stayed out of the EU.

The MHRA stressed that the membership survey was carried out independently by Deloitte and Touche.

Copies of the presentations delivered during the MHRA conference are available on CD and can be collected from the offices of the association.

Copies of all the reports, including the final three, will be available at the offices of the association for review by anyone who would like to ensure that the process was carried out in an objective and credible way, the MHRA said.