Malta Business Bureau (MBB) President Raphael Aloisio has stated that Malta needs to find ways to fully understand the impact of European Union (EU) legislation, while also embracing it in a sustainable manner.

His comments came during an event held on Friday by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) to present the results of the MHRA Hotel Survey by Deloitte for the second quarter of 2024 (Q2 2024). He was speaking in a panel discussion that also featured BCRS CEO Alan Meilak and Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) CEO Pierre Fenech, moderated by MHRA CEO Andrew Agius Muscat.

The MBB represents the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and the MHRA in Brussels and Malta, liaising directly with European institutions, the Maltese Permanent Representation, and with other umbrella organisations on all policy and funding issues affecting Maltese business interests.

Mr Aloisio was only appointed President of the MBB last June, succeeding Alison Mizzi, who led the organisation for the past three years.

At one point during the panel discussion, Mr Muscat turned to Mr Aloisio to ask him how he has settled into the new role, especially given he mainly comes from a finance background.

“I’m now in a position to better understand what the MBB stands for and what we are trying to achieve,” he remarked.

The MBB has a team of technical individuals focused on everything that is going on in the EU, local players then provide feedback which is used by MBB to lobby Malta’s position.

“We know that as an island nation, the one-size-fits-all approach tends to create certain disadvantages,” Mr Aloisio said, highlighting the need for Malta to effectively lobby its position to get the most funds possible.

Mr Muscat remarked that given Malta’s size, there is a tendency for many to look at the EU as somewhat distant from local businesses’ operations, yet different directives do have an impact.

Mr Aloisio said that the underlying reasons behind certain EU regulations are practically almost positive.

“What happens, like in everything, is that you get regulations which are being drafted for countries which are much bigger than us and have different realities, but we come to a position where the rules are being applied across the board,” he added.

He said that as a result, it is key for Malta to be very clear in understanding the regulations. “Instead of trying to fight legislation, we need to see how we can apply it,” Mr Aloisio continued.

“We need to be much more effective in understanding the impact of legislation on Malta, and in agreeing how we can embrace the legislation in a way that makes sense and that is sustainable for an island like Malta, he stated.

“We need to make sure that relevancy is entrenched to ensure that objectives are achieved,” Mr Aloisio said.

In the MBB’s Annual Report for 2023-24, Mr Aloisio, together with Ms Mizzi, had stated that the EU needs to shift its focus towards the bloc’s declining competitiveness and to create a healthy environment for businesses.

On his part, Mr Aloisio had said the EU should ultimately ensure that legislation is proportionate and adheres to the principle of subsidiarity, allowing Member States to deal with an issue effectively on their own at central, regional or local level.