Prime Minister meets with rapporteur for the EU and the future of the Single Market
Prime Minister Robert Abela met with Enrico Letta, rapporteur for the EU and the future of the Single Market, at Castille on Monday, where the PM said that all EU citizens should enjoy the benefits of the single market without there being any distinctions or disadvantages.
Abela highlighted the importance of connectivity for countries on the periphery of the EU, like Malta, while also mentioning the need for conditions ensuring equality in the Single Market, including in terms of unobstructed access to medicines. Abela said that in the pharmaceutical sector, regulatory issues need to be addressed to ensure fair access to medicines for everyone. Abela also highlighted the need to safeguard the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.
Prime Minister Abela highlighted the need for better legislation that considers the impact on each Member State and considers everyone’s needs in the impact analysis. He mentioned the recent environmental legislation, such as the European FIT for 55 Directive and the Mobility Package, with part of the latter recently declared in the opinion of the Advocate General before the Courts of the European Union as a mistake that needs to be nullified. Therefore, the Prime Minister said that there is a need for a better legislative process that considers the particular cases of Member States like
Malta.
Abela said that flexibility in support from states in critical sectors like transport, digital connectivity and energy remains important, as does the respect towards national competence in taxation policy. The Prime Minister also noted the importance of respecting the European principle of a free services market so that the European Union can be competitive in other areas like gaming.