Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531934
12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 JANUARY 2025 NEWS The Malta Chamber strengthens representation in European Freight, Logistics and Shipping fora THE Malta Chamber of Com- merce, Enterprise, and Industry is pleased to announce that it has officially joined CLECAT as of January 2025. CLECAT is a European policy lobbying body representing the interests of over 19,000 companies across Europe, employing more than 1,000,000 staff in logistics, freight forwarding and customs services, making it the most repre- sentative organisation of its kind. By affiliating with CLECAT, The Malta Chamber will enhance its ca- pabilities in three key areas, which are • Substantiate its expertise, by accessing and better grasping the collective sectorial insights across the EU. • Contribute to national in- terest representation, by improved alertness to policy matters impact- ing Malta, and contribution within its Working Groups reflecting po- sitions in key areas, together with EU advisory arm Malta Business Bureau. • Expand influence beyond the Council and European Parlia- ment to key European sectoral lob- bying groups which are instrumen- tal, particularly when lobbying with the European Commission. The Malta Chamber is already an active participant within other European fora, like Eurocham- bers, Business Europe and Enter- prise Europe Network. The Malta Chamber is also active within the Island Nations Advocacy Group (INAG), which brings together island states such as Malta, Ire- land, and Cyprus to promote con- verged positions. Membership in CLECAT will further strengthen these efforts at the European level. In light of Malta's unique ge- ographical position, the Malta Chamber has repeatedly reiterat- ed its call for the introduction of a "Territorial Proofing" or "Insularity Test" as part of the EU's Compet- itiveness Check within the impact assessment process. EU regulations should consider the specific chal- lenges faced by peripheral island states. The Malta Chamber also stresses the importance of conduct- ing timely impact assessments, to prevent unintended consequences by adopting measures that reflect the distinct needs of such, from the outset of the legislative process. European freight forwarders and customs agents clear approximate- ly 95% of all goods in Europe and handle a significant proportion of transport operations, includ- ing 65% of cargo by road, 95% by air, and 65% by sea. Their opera- tions also encompass rail freight, inland waterways and intermodal transport, leveraging advanced IT systems, dedicated terminals and warehousing to meet customer de- mands effectively. Alongside the Malta Cham- ber, two other organisations have joined CLECAT this year, which are, the Romanian Freight For- warders Association (USER) and the Romanian Association of Cus- toms Brokers (Roubroker). With these new members, CLECAT now comprises 28 national asso- ciations, reinforcing its role as the leading voice for European logistics and freight forwarding.