National reform programme 2008-2010 Malta - European Commission

3.4 Manufacturing research projects: Three research projects are planned in relation to
manufacturing research. These projects will involve industry-academia consortia
working on common issues of relevance.
3.5 State of the art ICT facility: Build a state-of-the-art facility to cater for a larger number of
undergraduates, and to support a growing number of postgraduates and researchers in
various areas of ICT.
3.6 MGSS Postgraduate Scheme: to professionalise and build critical capacity in research
and advanced education.
3.7 Launch University of Malta Trust Fund.
4.0 Pursue the fight against climate change
4.1 Enhancing Malta’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change: introduce a
comprehensive national framework for climate change policy action in Malta, built on
the results of scientific studies and assessment of international obligations and
vulnerability of the country. As a result, a National Climate Change Strategy for Malta,
disseminated nationwide and integrated in all major national policies, programmes and
measures will be achieved.
4.2 Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources in the Domestic & Commercial Sector :
increase reliance on RES with the aim to diversify the fuel mix, reduce air pollution,
reduce local dependence on polluting and costly fuel sources and ease economic
burdens on domestic households and commercial enterprises.
4.3 The introduction of tax incentives with a view to promote newer and cleaner commercial
vehicles: businesses that make use of cleaner, newer and smaller vehicles will be taxed
less than those which utilize older and less environmental friendly vehicles. Businesses
thatopt to buy newer vehicles and vehicles that have cleaner technology will be charged
less registration tax than older vehicles. Furthermore, the annual registration tax will
vary according to the age of the vehicle, that is as the vehicle gets older, the annual
circulation tax will increase. This is in line with the polluter pays principle.
4.4 Reform in the Vehicle Registration Tax Regime: amend the motor vehicle registration
tax and Annual Road Circulation tax to one based on the Polluter Pays Principle
5.0 Better Regulation
5.0 Strengthen the Better Regulation Unit: strengthen the Better Regulation Unit with a view
to eliminate “red tape” whilst transforming services to business and citizens into “red
carpet” treatment.
5.1 Complete the current Action Plan for Simplification: Continue the implementation of the
measures within the Action Plan for Simplification
5.2 Carry out an intensive, sectoral based consultation to target the key pain points felt by
businesses: Government believes that the next step is to take simplification to another
level and consult with the various business sectors to obtain ‘on the ground’ feedback.
A consultation plan has already been prepared by the BRU on this matter, which
dissects the business community in a number of business sectors to facilitate the
meetings.
5.3 Put in place consultation guidelines and better practice for use within the public
administration: build further on the consultation achievements to date by putting in place
consultation guidelines and better practice for use within the public administration.
5.4 Review the customer care systems within the public administration: implementation of a
standardised customer care system in the wider public sector will possibly identify
existing burdens on businesses and citizens. In particular recurring customer
complaints can act as a source of further simplification.
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