Government publishes 37 EU impact assessment studies

by Ivan Brincat

After months of criticism, the government yesterday published 37 studies commissioned in connection with the EU accession process.
This followed a decision taken by Cabinet earlier this month to publish all the reports which were commissioned so that these could be released for the benefit of the public.
The reports were commissioned by various ministries to study the impact on Malta of adhering to the acquis communautaire. The cost of the reports to government was not given.
Foreign Affairs minister Joe Borg said yesterday that the large majority of the studies that were released had already been circul-
ated to MEUSAC members, which include all constituted bodies, unions, representative associations and other stakeholders.
Dr Borg said that as negotiations with the European Union proceed at a steady pace, government has decided to make the studies available to the public. As of today, the studies will be available on the Malta-EU Information Centre website while hard copies can be obtained either from the MIC or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to ensure as much information as possible is widely available, the government also intends to hold a number of information sessions on the various studies commissioned.
This will provide an opportunity for the people involved in the drawing up of the reports to explain the issues discussed in the report and will also provide an opportunity for clarifications and suggestions to be made by the stakeholders concerned.
The minister said that studies commissioned by parastatal companies were not published as they could have a bearing on the companies’ corporate strategy. In certain cases, sensitive company specific data has been removed from the studies; in such cases this is indicated in the published copy.
“The studies which are not being published are those regarding areas which are sensitive to Malta’s negotiations,” Dr Borg said.
The minister did not exclude that these studies would be published when the negotiations on the relevant chapters are concluded.
Asked to comment on any starking find in the studies, Dr Borg said that one regarded the cost of occupational injuries in 1999 which was conservatively estimated at not less than Lm28m.
In this report, it is noted that national statistics show that 5,267 occupational injuries were recorded in Malta during 1999. This relates solely to injuries reported to the authorities, and excludes occupational ill-health.
Asked if the reports could make people sceptical on EU membership, Dr Borg said he thought the opposite would happen. “There are reports which highlight the fact that our
standards are low compared to those of more developed countries. I am referring to standards in environment and transport for example. There are some areas in which people should be concerned about our poor standards.”
Dr Borg said the reports serve as an eye opener for the future, whether Malta joined the EU or not.

The published studies are as follows:

Ministry for Economic Services
1. Retention of the status quo regarding the exportation of Maltese stone – Lino Bianco and Associates
2. Compliance with the relevant provisions of the Acquis with regards to registration, licensing, manufacturing, importation and retailing of medicinal products for Human and Animal Consumption – EuropAdvise Ltd, KPMG and MISCO.
3. Follow up report on Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use – EuropAdvise Ltd, KPMG and MISCO.
4. Food Hygiene in the Food Manufacturing and Processing Sector – Dr Joseph G. Mallia.
5. Food Hygiene in the Food Wholesale/Retail/Distribution and Catering Sectors – Dr Joseph G. Mallia.
6. Addendum to the studies conducted on Food Hygiene in the Food Manufacturing and Processing Sector and Food Hygiene in the Food Wholesale/Retail/Distribution and Catering sectors – Dr Joseph G. Mallia.
7. Executive summary and recommendations of the Impact Assessment Study on the Adoption of the Acquis with regard to Freedom of Movement and Establishment for the various service sector - ACCESS Euro Consulting
8. Study to assess the compliance of Malta with the relevant provisions of the acquis communautaire with regards to Consumer and Health Protection – Product Liability – Advocates Micallef.

Ministry of Agriculture
1. Assessment of the Impact of Accession to the European Union on the Activities of the Malta Veterinary Services – AVMT Ltd
2. Study on the Challenges and Opportunities for a small scale multifunctional agricultural sector – CIHEAM-IAM Bari.
3. Study on the Dairy Industry in Malta – Thorarinn Egill Sveinsson.
4. Assessment of the Impact of Accession to the European Union on Livestock Production in Malta – Andrew James, PAN Livestock
Services Ltd.
5. Assessment of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, the Impact of Accession on the local Industry – EMCS.

Ministry for Transport and
Communications
1. Impact Assessment on the Adoption of the Acquis with regard to Road Haulage Operations – ACCESS Euro Consulting.
2. The impact of the EU acquis communautaire on the local ports – EuropAdvise Ltd.
3. Impact Assessment on the
Adoption of the Acquis with regard to Passenger Transport Operations – ACCESS Euro Consulting
4. Working paper on a viable public transport system for the Public Transport Authority – ACCESS Euro Consulting

Ministry for Social Policy and Employment
Compliance with the relevant provisions of the acquis communautaire with regard to the possible adoption of the EU Occupational Health and Safety and Labour directives – KPMG, Misco and EuropAdvise Ltd.

Ministry for the Environment
1. The Impact of EU accession on the Water Services Corporation – EUROPA Research and Consultancy Services Ltd (Malta).
2. Impact Assessment Study on the Implementation of EU Council Directive 75/439/EEC on the Disposal of Waste Oils – Eco Standards Services Ltd.
3. A study of solid waste management in Malta – Environmental Development Consultants Ltd.
4. The impact of EU regulations controlling the use of ozone depleting substances on Malta – Alan Abela.
5. The Implications of Directive 94/63/EEC on the Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions (VOC) resulting from the Storage of Petrol and its Distribution from Terminals to Service Stations.
6. Report on the Quality of Potable Water supplied to consumers through the public distribution system in the Maltese Islands – Water Services Corporation.
7. The Implications of EU Council Directive 1999/13/EC on the Limitation of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds due to the use of solvents in certain activities and installations – ECO-Standards Services Ltd.
8. Assessing the Impact of Compliance with Council Directive 76/464/EEC and other related Water Quality Directives with reference to marine discharges in Malta – Victor Axiak and Carmen Delia.
9. Report on the study of the effect of compliance with EU Regulations with respect to GMOs – Dr Marion Zammit Mangion and Prof Alex E. Felice.
10, Study on Compliance with the EC Nitrate in Agriculture Directive (91/676/EEC) – Soil Survey and Land Research Centre, Cranfield University.

Ministry for Justice and Local Government
1. The Lugano convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters – Maltese accession - Tonna, Camilleri, Vassallo & Co.
2. Convention on the taking of evidence abroad in civil or commercial matters – Tonna, Camilleri, Vassallo & Co.
3. Hague convention on international access to justice – Tonna, Camilleri, Vassallo & Co.
4. The European Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgements in matrimonial matters – Tonna, Camilleri, Vassallo & Co.
5. Convention on the service abroad of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters – Tonna, Camilleri, Vassallo & Co.

Ministry of Finance
1. Exempt supplies: The adoption of the VAT acquis – short term measures – Pricewaterhouse Coopers
2. Exempt supplies: VAT – Supplies by public authorities – Pricewaterhouse Coopers
3. Exempt supplies: VAT – Miscellaneous Matters – Pricewaterhouse Coopers
4. Exemptions and Reduced Rates – VAT – Pricewaterhouse Cooper