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Malta Business Foundation

MBF

The Malta Business Bureau is the EU business advisory organisation for the Malta Chamber of Commerce and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Clint Tanti (Cabinet of Commissioner Glenn Micallef)

11 Dec 2025 · Courtesy call, minutes attached

Malta Business Bureau urges simpler, predictable EU Taxonomy rules

25 Nov 2025
Topic — Review of technical screening criteria within the EU taxonomy environmental framework.
Message — MBB calls for technical support and clearer definitions for complex sustainability reporting requirements. They suggest standardised templates and aligning the Taxonomy with other EU regulations. Additionally, they request more stable legislation cycles to provide legal certainty.123
Why — This would lower operational costs by reducing the need for expensive external consultants.45
Impact — Investors lose the ability to compare corporate sustainability performance across different member states.6
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Malta Business Bureau backs voluntary company rules protecting national sovereignty

23 Sept 2025
Topic — The EU is consulting on creating a single corporate legal framework for innovative companies.
Message — The MBB supports an optional framework that complements, rather than replaces, national company laws. They demand digital-first procedures in English and the elimination of physical presence requirements. The organization insists that taxation and labor laws remain strictly under member state control.12
Why — Maltese firms would lower expansion costs while maintaining the island's competitive regulatory advantages.34
Impact — Proponents of deep EU integration lose if tax and labor remain national powers.5
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Malta Business Bureau urges capacity-sensitive Digital Networks Act strategy

11 Jul 2025
Topic — This initiative aims to boost investments in secure high-speed digital infrastructure across Europe.
Message — The MBB requests a capacity-sensitive implementation strategy that accounts for disparities in market size. They argue that regulation must recognize the unique challenges and limited resources of small island nations.12
Why — A tailored approach would help smaller markets avoid regulatory gaps and high costs.3
Impact — Small Member States lose out if the framework ignores their specific structural limitations.4
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Malta Business Foundation urges simpler rules for biotech growth

9 Jun 2025
Topic — The EU is proposing new measures to accelerate biotechnology market transition and innovation.
Message — The foundation identifies structural barriers that hinder innovation, competitiveness, and growth within the industry. They want the EU to simplify procedures and reduce time to market for Maltese businesses.12
Why — Streamlined regulations would help smaller firms overcome local barriers and achieve global biotech leadership.3
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Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

17 Mar 2025

The upcoming European Commissions start-up and scale-up initiative is an opportunity to address key barriers to companies innovation, competitiveness and growth. While the EU has made significant progress in fostering entrepreneurship, many start-ups continue to struggle with access to finance, regulatory complexity, and scaling across borders. Start-ups in Malta can benefit substantially from a more predictable and supportive environment, with an opportunity to transition into high-growth scale-ups. This will position them, along with other European innovative companies in a better position to contribute towards important EU objectives such as the green and digital transition. The document enclosed highlights in more detail our feedback on the need for streamlined and future proof regulatory frameworks, improved access to funding (including through EU grants), and enhanced support for innovation-driven enterprises.
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Meeting with Clint Tanti (Cabinet of Commissioner Glenn Micallef)

11 Mar 2025 · Overview of the work of MBB in Brussels; Overview of Commissioner’s Micallef portfolio.

Response to Savings and Investments Union

7 Mar 2025

The establishment of a Savings and Investments Union (SIU) within the EU would be a welcome initiative, considering its aims of enhancing financial integration, addressing inefficiencies in capital allocation, and strengthening the investment landscape across member states. The initiative holds the potential to mobilize capital to support innovative industries and businesses that struggle to access traditional bank financing due to risk considerations. At the same time, the SIU must ensure that it provides stable and attractive investment opportunities for individuals seeking financial security, particularly for retirement planning. More details on Maltese businesses perspective in the document attached.
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Meeting with Josianne Cutajar (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Mar 2024 · DIGITOUR ‘Building Digitalisation Readiness in Tourism SMEs’ project

Response to Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT)

19 Jan 2024

The Malta Business Bureau is the EU business advisory organisation of The Malta Chamber and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. We are please to share our views on the Transfer Pricing Directive proposal.
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Meeting with David Kerr (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli) and The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry

23 Nov 2023 · Meeting to discuss the work undertaken by the cabinet of Commissioner Dalli.

Malta Business Bureau warns ETS threatens Mediterranean shipping competitiveness

18 Sept 2023
Topic — Identifying non-EU container ports to prevent evasion of carbon emission costs.
Message — The organization warns that operators may shift activities to North African ports to bypass emissions costs. They stress that avoiding EU ports would cause severe economic damage to local shipping hubs.12
Why — This would protect Malta's position as a manufacturing hub and secure its supply chains.34
Impact — EU port regions lose economic activity and environmental goals suffer from carbon leakage.56
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Malta Business Bureau urges flexible recycled plastic rules

30 May 2023
Topic — Common EU rules for calculating and reporting recycled content in plastic beverage bottles.
Message — The bureau requests calculation metrics only refer to the major component and include pre-consumer waste. They also advocate for the immediate inclusion of a mass balance approach.12
Why — Maltese businesses would avoid penalties for factors outside their direct manufacturing control.3
Impact — Recyclers lose efficiency if the rules indirectly encourage using detrimental paper labels.4
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Response to Advanced alternative dispute resolution for consumers

15 Dec 2022

The Malta Business Bureau welcomes the basis of the proposed Alternative Dispute Resolution which is primarily directed to offset unnecessary court processes and time-consuming litigation, administrative burden, and costs for companies doing business online. Litigation can be stressful for companies, therefore any measures that alleviate this burden in terms of their daily operations is deemed to be beneficial. Generally, businesses are in favour of less fragmentation of the digital market brought about by different national laws. A simple ADR process is crucial in this respect, especially for SMEs. SMEs are already overwhelmed in keeping up with the day-to-day running of their businesses and given their size, they may be disengaged from participating in digital trade if this is found to be too complex and particularly if it ends up adding administrative burdens. However, businesses look favourably at the possibility of reducing costs brought about by the repeal of the ODR Regulation to be replaced by the ADR, particularly for SMEs. Clear rules and procedures of judicial procedures remain a priority for businesses so as to ensure that they continue operating in a predictable economic environment and with a fair level playing-field. Such information needs to be more visible among business through public awareness raising measures. To this end, in view of this consultation, the MBB sees the potential for the ADR proposal to complement the regulatory changes introduced through the Omnibus Directive (EU/2019/2161) and any collective actions presented within this framework by including simplified and clear signposts for both businesses and consumers, and therefore become an accessible tool that is useful to all parties. The Malta Business Bureau is the EU advisory organisation for the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, which represents three economic groups (manufacturing, importers Distributors Retailers and Service providers), and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, which represents the hospitality sector. The MBB is also a partner of the Enterprise Europe Network.
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Meeting with Joseph Vella (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli), Silvan Agius (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

28 Oct 2022 · Meeting to discuss EU Equality initiatives.

Response to Enabling factors for digital education

12 Sept 2022

The Malta Business Bureau welcomes the outlined proposal for a Council Recommendation on “Digital Education – Enabling factors for success”. At this point in time, all EU member states are on a path of recovery and rebuilding their economies with the aim of attaining future resilience. Access to digital education which is provided on equal footing between regions and member states thus comes at a time when digitalisation is already at the forefront of the European agenda. Creating means and ways for successful digital education is the necessary means to an end. In achieving ‘’accessible, high-quality and inclusive digital education’’, it is important to have the input of the key players, such as social partners, from the initial stages of planning on how to introduce digitalisation programmes, to the implementation stages of the programmes, as well as their evaluation. Educators, trainers, service providers as well as business representative organisations need to be consulted at every step of the way. A harmonious approach among all affected players is crucial in addressing gaps in the education system and to ensure that momentum is not lost once teaching plans are set and that educators have the right tools and training in successfully executing their curricula. A focus on digital education as highlighted in the Commission’s Call for Evidence document is the way forward in driving economic growth, job creation and competitiveness’. To make sure that these efforts are working towards such goals, it is important that those shaping the programmes for digital education are well aware of the needs of businesses. Having such awareness will help focus training and resources that avoid gaps between education and the industry’s current and future needs. Public policy makers and private stakeholders also need to take into consideration the motivating factors for learners and educators to engage in such educational programmes. Efforts for digital education can be more effective if there are tangible opportunities that learners can access once they join or advance in the workforce. Educators need to be motivated and supported in adapting their teaching methods towards digital education. Financial and technical support must be sought from the start as well guidance by experts for education providers. The programmes need to cater for teaching that fosters a hands on and problem–solving approach, rather than a book-heavy one, thereby making sure that skills learned can be retained, enhanced and applied in a real labour market context. We are already living in a digital age. It is therefore important to match this reality with even more opportunities for learners to have digital education available on equal footing with the needs of employers and the different economic sectors. Assessing the needs and gaps in the education system, coupled with the right learning approach and having the right tools to achieve this, is key for the way forward. For more information the MBB also invites the European Commission to view ‘Education for the Future’ (enclosed), a comprehensive document by the Malta Chamber which addresses basic prerequisites in this area which are very important for business. The Malta Business Bureau is the EU advisory organisation for the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, which represents three economic groups (manufacturing, importers – Distributors – Retailers and Service providers), and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, which represents the hospitality sector. The MBB is also a partner of the Enterprise Europe Network.
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Response to Improving the provision of digital skills in education and training

12 Sept 2022

The importance of prioritising digitalisation and the improvement of the availability of digital skills is undeniable. Digital skills are part and parcel of our present reality and will be a big part of our future. The question here is how to keep everyone on equal footing and ensure that the proper education and training are being made widely available. The European Digital Targets for 2030 aim to have a minimum of 80% of the population that possess basic digital skills and have around 20 million ICT specialist across the EU. To do so, education curricula need to be relevant to our current and future needs as a society and economy. It is also crucial that the right training, tools, and opportunities for growth are established. The latter will help motivate the future workforce and avoid brain drains within the EU, as well as disillusionment within the ICT sector. The EU also has a vision for the digital transformation of businesses wherein one of the goals is to have more than 90% of SMEs be in a position to apply at least a basic level of digital intensity. Such targets can only be achieved if the education foundation is there. Being aware of what the market needs are and providing applicable teaching and training, properly equips educators in being able to train the workforce in taking on and applying different levels of digital skills. Our assessment is aligned with the intentions of this proposal which states the needs of having higher synergies between formal education and training, the private sector and civil society. Digitalisation has been progressing in leaps and bounds but the strides we have been taking in making sure that the EU population is on an equal footing when it comes to basic digital skills has been lacking. This can be attributed to several factors as outlined in this Call for Evidence document. The document laments the lack of enterprises that provide ICT training and education for their staff. While we consider this statement to be subjective and the level of training provided by enterprises may vary from one EU member state to another as well as within an individual member state itself, to address this issue, our main recommendation would be to formalise and intensify communication between industry and policy makers in addressing these gaps. Further public investment is also required to support full time workers further their educational and training, with specific incentives for ICT educational programmes. Here we underline that training needs to be both accessible and affordable. The Call for Evidence document also identifies another pitfall when it comes to the provision of digital skills – the fact that training is usually focused on operational skills rather than problem-solving ones. Once again, communication here is key. This time around, communication is required between industry representatives and educators. Having exposure to real life scenarios and engaging in projects to problem solve, learners will have the opportunity to progress as well as appreciate the value of having these digital skills. This can also lead to a higher degree of innovation within the workforce. Having a proposal that takes into consideration targeted stakeholder consultations is significantly important in ensuring the relevance and applicability of this Council Recommendation. What is currently relevant in terms of digital skills attained, might not be the case in a few years’ time as these constantly evolve. Some occupations which are currently not digitally intensive might be so in a decade or so. It is therefore crucial to understand and ensure the provision of the right skills training depending on what the different industrial sectors need. Whilst some jobs might be more routine based, others might need workers who are digitally creative and are able to utilise their acquired skills for problem solving. Also view Education for the Future, a comprehensive document by the Malta Chamber enclosed.
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Response to Review of the de minimis aid Regulation

25 Jul 2022

The Malta Business Bureau welcomes the revision of the current de minimis regulation as it will enable SMEs to have a better chance to persevere amidst the current economic instability. It is beneficial for the European Commission to conduct further research in identifying the level of access SMEs have to state funding, the degree of ease in accessing it and how supportive this financial aid is to SMEs. This will help the Commission mould a finance support system that is relevant and useful. The MBB is supportive of the suggestion to raise the threshold of the de minimis aid as this will help to give businesses more support required. This will also contribute to a boost of economic growth which is currently much needed given the current economic conditions. It is also agreed that the threshold is raised particularly to take into consideration the unique challenges faced by businesses in different geographical positions, particularly in the periphery and insular regions such as island states. In the case of the introduction of a unique mandatory registry, the MBB emphasises the need that if such a registry is to be introduced, safeguards have to be placed to ensure that SMEs are not put in jeopardy by having sensitive information revealed to competitors by way of this registry nor be subjected to additional administrative burdens in registering and utilising this registry.
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Response to Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI)

11 May 2022

The Malta Business Bureau (MBB) supports the European Commission´s effort at securing the Single Market freedoms in times of crises given the lessons learnt from the recent pandemic. Under well defined criteria, it will be crucial in preparation for future challenges and crises to have readily available crisis-mitigating measures. The Commission’s proposed instrument in preserving the integrity of the Single Market in the event of a crisis is thus welcomed. It is crucial that the scope of SMEI is narrow and targeted in ensuring that in crisis situations the imposed emergency controls are timely and information is easily accessible to businesses and citizens alike. The imposition of this definite response framework needs to be imposed only at times of crisis. The definition of the latter therefore needs to be clear and homogenously agreed on. Although we support an overarching crisis response framework this needs to subscribe to the principle of proportionality and avoids the imposition of excessive market monitoring. As such businesses should not be liable to disclosing commercially sensitive information for the purpose of crisis preparedness. The Commission should obtain information from Members States through a common agreed framework. The MBB is the EU advisory organisation of The Malta Chamber and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, and a partner of the Enterprise Europe Network.
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Malta Business Bureau urges flexible building rules and SME funding

25 Mar 2022
Topic — The EU is revising energy standards to double building renovation rates by 2030.
Message — The MBB calls for financial aid for SMEs facing high short-term renovation costs. They argue that on-site renewable requirements are unrealistic for Malta's local context.12
Why — Maltese firms would avoid technical mandates that are impossible for local buildings.34
Impact — Climate goals could be undermined if building efficiency standards are weakened.5
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Meeting with Colin Scicluna (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica)

14 Dec 2021 · Inform of the activities of the MBF with respect to the COFOE and present their recommendations in this context, also uploaded on the Multilingual Digital Platform

Response to Package travel – review of EU rules

15 Sept 2021

An overhaul of the Package Travel Directive is required because of the blurred lines between the Package Travel Directive and the difficulty in implementing and enforcing the rules of the Linked Travel Arrangements which were supposed to reflect the onset of digital markets. The industry is being overhauled by digitalisation and the legislation must reflect these changes. In the current situation, the Package Travel Directive only determines the reimbursement that is being given to the consumer by the tour operator. This needs to change to reflect the requirements of the industry to protect all economic operators. The Package Travel Directive should be a directive that can enable protection for the consumer by ensuring that all stakeholders are adequately protected by Insolvency and are obliged by the same rules at whatever point and whatever the platform (digital or otherwise) they are on the supply chain. The directive needs to be clearer on the adequacy and methods adopted by member states on insolvency cover to ensure uniformity in order that customers are protected sufficiently and uniformly, irrespective as to which country the travel package has been purchased from.
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Response to Revision of Food Information to Consumers for what concerns labelling rules on alcoholic beverages

6 Jul 2021

The Malta Business Bureau feels that Option 1 indicated in the inception impact assessment is more suitable both in terms of staggered additions and also in terms of providing the necessary information. This would avoid the need to place what could be deemed as unnecessary information in relation to alcoholic beverages on the label, which is anything not related to energy content.
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Response to Europe’s digital decade: 2030 digital targets

9 Mar 2021

The Malta Business Bureau supports the Commission's efforts in spearheading a digital transformation, and is in broad agreement with the Commission's aims in this regard. However, it must be emphasised that while we agree that setting digital targets in the mentioned areas can be a useful tool for bringing about change in certain areas, we urge against targets directly set upon businesses, in particular SMEs. We would favour an approach whereby targets are set upon the Member States, who would then seek to fulfil those targets through empowering businesses to digitise through the use of schemes and incentives designed to allow businesses to make the most of digitisation as an opportunity. We are firm believers that the digitisation of businesses is a crucial component in the future of the EU, as is the maintaining of a well functioning single market and digital single market, which puts European businesses and citizens first rather than protectionist goals of Member States or ambitions of a few gatekeepers. It is crucial to recall the importance of the country of origin principle in this regard, and its strict application in both the offline and online worlds. It must also be mentioned that the digital single market can never reach its full potential if the current status quo of fragmentation of rules in the Single Market remains. We support efforts to increase digital skills within the workforce, as the lack of adequate digital skills is consistently an issue which is brought up by our members, in particular within the context of Covid-19.
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Malta Business Bureau seeks catering exemptions from nutrient profiles

25 Jan 2021
Topic — The EU initiative establishes nutrient profiles for food carrying nutrition or health claims.
Message — The MBF argues nutrient profiles and origin labelling should only apply to pre-packed food. They claim requiring this for non-pre-packed food in catering would be administratively impossible. They also support new date marking rules to reduce food waste.123
Why — Limiting requirements to pre-packed food protects catering micro-enterprises from heavy administrative burdens.4
Impact — Restaurant customers will lack clear nutritional data to make healthier dining choices.5
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Response to Prolongation of the Regulation on de minimis State aid to undertakings providing services of general economic interest

30 Jun 2020

The Malta Business Bureau agrees with the extension of the prolongation of the Regulation on de minimis State aid to undertakings providing services of general economic interest until 2023. It concurs that the expiry of the SGEI de minimis Regulation while the rest of the SGEI package remaining in force, would increase legal uncertainty to small companies and administrative burden to public administrations. It would also be inopportune for it to happen at this time when several companies are struggling to navigate through the Covid-19 crisis.
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M alta Business Bu reau urges priorit y on food waste pr evention

28 Feb 2020
Topic — T his consultation a ddresses the develo pment of a sustaina ble and fair Europ ean food system.
Message — The MBB stresses prioritizi ng food waste redu ction and preventio n. They suggest re viewing the CAP to curb excess supply and standardizing donation rules.12
Why — Addre ssing food waste w ould mitigate mass ive economic losse s currently impact ing European busin esses and governme nts.3
Impact — Current a gricultural framew orks face scrutiny for incentivizing the wasteful overp roduction of speci fic food products.4
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