Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1024340
15 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 SEPTEMBER 2018 a one-stop shop for all your investments At Bank of Valletta, we provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment needs. You can choose from a wide range of deposit products, life assurance, investment plans, investment funds, portfolio management and stockbroking services. BOV INVESTMENTS Visit any BOV branch or Investment Centre in Malta or Gozo to discuss your financial planning requirements and to set an appointment with one of our professional Financial Advisors. Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1130 More information is available from www.bov.com or contact 2131 2020. The value of investments may go down as well as up and may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licensed to carry out investment services in terms of the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370 of the Laws of Malta). Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is an enrolled tied insurance intermediary of Mapfre M.S.V. Life p.l.c. Mapfre MSV Life is authorised by the MFSA to carry out long term business of insurance under the Insurance Business Act (Cap. 403 of the Laws of Malta). COM 1980 top EU survey How respondents were sampled The survey was based on one of the biggest samples ever collected from among the EU experts and practi- tioners, showcasing a plural- ity of views on what 2019 has in store. The diversity of the respondents' backgrounds and origins, which included Maltese views, produced a general balance of opinion, and included EU civil serv- ants (36%), private sector experts (25%), academia and think tanks (11%), national governments (10%), NGOs (7%) and mass media (5%). 72% of respondents deal with EU policy-making every day. While geographical compo- sition was not perfectly bal- anced (Benelux and Nordic countries are over-represent- ed to the detriment of CEE countries), the population of surveyed experts covers each Member State. The sample somewhat reflects the demo- graphic composition of the EU, with a plurality of German respondents (15%), followed by French ones (12%). Think-tank Votewatch, however, cautioned that the 'EU bubble' was not neces- sarily representative of the preferences of the overall EU population. Dalli seeks majority for ambitious 45% cut in car CO2 emissions YANNICK PACE A close vote is expected during tomorrow's European Parliament environment com- mittee meeting to approve more stringent emissions targets than originally proposed by the European Commission. Labour MEP Miriam Dalli is seeking sup- port from EU lawmakers for cuts on emis- sions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles far greater than those proposed by the Commission. MEPs will go through an 82-page long voting list, following fresh compromise amendments tabled by the Maltese MEP. The controversial vote, closely followed by car industry lobbyists, is expected to be close. The latest compromise amendments were submitted amidst heavy lobbying to water down the Commission's proposals. "We just need the ambition and the right policy to get things moving forward," Dal- li said, adding she had "settled" for a 45% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030 to secure a "progressive majority" behind her posi- tion. Dalli's proposal is significantly higher than the EC's proposal of 15% cuts, which was driven by the fact that emissions from transport is the only class of emissions that is still rising – at 27% of the EU's total emissions. And while the EC wanted to cut 15% of emissions by 2025 to rise to 30% by 2030, both the European People's Party (EPP) and the European Conservatives (ECR) want lower cuts of just 20% by 2030. By proposing a target of 20% and 45% re- spectively, Dalli appears to have secured the majority support with the liberals (AL- DE), the Greens, the United Green Left, and the right-wing EFDD. "The risk we are facing is that posed by the most conservative forces in the Euro- pean Parliament including the EPP, who are not interested in pushing for stricter CO2 emission reductions from transport," Dalli said. Dalli is also proposing testing of real- world CO2 emissions, rules on data re- porting from fuel consumption meters and a revision of the car-labeling directive to provide consumers with accurate and comparable information on fuel consump- tion, CO2 emissions and air pollutant emissions. "My ultimate aim is to reduce emissions through zero and low-emission vehicles be it hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cell tech- nology, battery electric vehicles and effi- cient internal combustion engines. It will be up to the manufacturers to decide what technology mix to go for," Dalli said.