Swedish confederation officials familiarise with Malta

The Malta Federation of Industry recently organised a Malta familiarisation visit for senior officials from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

The two-day visit’s main purpose was for the visiting officials to establish contact with the employer and industrial organisations, while familiarising themselves with Malta’s situation regarding prospective its EU membership.

The delegation was made up of Christian Bratt – Director and International Policy Adviser - Fredrik Segerfeldt - Senior Adviser on International Affairs - and Olof Allgardh - Permanent Delegate at the Brussels Office.

The intensive programme of the delegation's visit involved meetings with an official from the Chief Negotiator's Office, with Edward Scicluna, Chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), with representatives of MCESD, Employers Organisations, Trade Unions and with senior officials of the Malta Development Corporation.

The delegation also met with MLP leader Alfred Sant, who was accompanied by Shadow Minister for Finance, Leo Brincat, and Party General Secretary Jimmy Magro.

With a view to the occasion, the FOI also organised an information meeting for its members and those of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, with the theme of ‘Swedish business activities before and after EU accession.’ The keynote speaker for this event was Christian Bratt, who explained Sweden’s economic situation prior to and following EU Accession, highlighting the involvement of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise in the information process and also explaining practical tools utilised so as to ensure that the members of the Confederation were adequately informed of the effects of EU membership, and even about subsequent developments like the introduction of the Euro and EU enlargement.

Following the presentation, a number of questions were raised from the floor, which involved aspects including the participation of small and medium-sized firms in Sweden; the voting power of small countries within the European Union; the issue of individual and collective sovereignty; the problems arising due to the dismantling of protective levies; the advantages derived by members states from bilateral trade agreements and the external relations of the European Union with third countries; as well as the position of public sector and of the monopolies in the Swedish.