Employers call for concrete actions to facilitate private investment

Removing obstacles to investment and better promotion of private investment are the actions that employers find crucial for encouraging private sector investment in Europe. In a joint declaration, all major Maltese employers' organisations together with the Government of Malta and the Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee listed the most urgent issues for policy makers to make investment easier.

EU and national policies must provide stability and enhance the ease of doing business. The Single Market is an important asset for attracting investment but greater flexibility and pragmatism is required. More private and public investment is needed in areas such as technology and innovation – the declaration reads.

"Business needs freedom to operate, we call for legal, regulatory and political stability to attract long-term investment" – said Jacek P. Krawczyk, President of the EESC Employers' Group. He reminded that employers are still struggling with over-regulation and administrative burden. Cutting red tape and fighting gold-plating are only some of ways to bring down high cost of doing business in the EU.

"Our economies are crying out for breathing space. We need to responsibly liberate and liberalise our investment strategies" – said Joseph Muscat, the Prime Minister of Malta. He underlined that Maltese government has taken a number of initiatives to attract investments which have already given concrete results.

The declaration was signed during the conference "Does the EU encourage private investment", which took place on 11 May 2017 within the framework of the Maltese Presidency to the Council of the European Union. The event was jointly organised by the Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EU advisory body) and all major Maltese employers' organisations.

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Encouraging private sector investment in Europe - joint declaration