Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/612918
4 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2015 News 4 News Circus organiser tells of challenges to match 'thrill of animals' GABRIEL SCHEMBRI SINCE the new law banning the use of animals in circuses was enacted, organiser Johann Said has had to face a new chal- lenge in his business – that of finding other good acts to per- form in Malta. They needed to be decent enough to match the thrill associated with the evoca- tive sound of a lion's roar, or the sight of a huge elephant playing with a beach ball, he said. This was the second time that Said has had to organize a cir- cus without the use of animals. The present one is being held in Marsa. Said concedes that things were much easier for him when animals were allowed, but now that he accepted the intro- duction of the animal ban, Said intends to embrace the new challenge by finding the best acts around. Proudly, he explains that his family has been in the enter- tainment business for three generations. "I hope my son will grow to love this industry too," he added. "The thing is, we need to adapt. The new law has harmed me, personally. But now I have to brace myself and find new means to keep the circus af loat." There was a very positive turn- out for last year's circus, which was also animal-free. He is hop- ing that this year, the circus will be able to offer the same emo- tions as before. We asked the people who at- tended the show whether they were entertained as expected, even without the use of animals. Most of them think animals were a major attraction, partic- ularly for the children. But they still believe that this circus lives up to their expectations. The Parliamentary Secretariat for EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, notifies that a call for tenders for the Provision of Marketing and Communication Services for Malta's Presidency of the Council of the EU 2017 has been issued. Copies of the tender documents may be obtained from the Department of Contracts, Notre Dame Ravelin, Floriana FRN 1600, Malta. Tel: (356) 21220212 Fax: (356) 21247681 Email: info@contracts.gov.mt. The documents are also available to download online from www.etenders.gov.mt. CALL FOR TENDERS FOR THE PROVISION OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES )250$/7$·635(6,'(1&<2)7+(&281&,/2) THE EU 2017 PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR THE EU PRESIDENCY 2017 AND EU FUNDS of the Council of the 2017 Maltese Presidency European Union Corporate taxation proposals: Malta 'breaks silence on reservations' MIRIAM DALLI MALTA has come out strongly against applying "rigid rules", urging the European Commis- sion to adopt a more f lexible ap- proach as it drafts legislation on taxation. Corporate tax was high on the agenda of EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels yesterday, during which they discussed the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, an initiative pur- sued by the Organisation of Eco- nomic Cooperation and Develop- ment (OECD). BEPS tries to address the ex- ploitation of international tax rules and loopholes by multina- tional enterprises. Companies use a number of schemes to shift profits across borders to take ad- vantage of tax rates that are lower than in the country where they make the profit. According to the OECD, some multinationals end up paying as little as 5% in corporate taxes when smaller businesses are pay- ing up to 30%. The Council yesterday adopted a directive aimed at improving transparency on tax rulings given by member states to companies in specific cases about how they should be taxed. The directive is in line with developments within the OECD and its work on tax base erosion and profit shifting. Speaking to MaltaToday, Sciclu- na said Malta – along with other EU countries – f lagged concerns of applying rigid rules for all. "We successfully pushed for the inclusion of 'a f lexible' approach in the Council Conclusion on BEPS," the Finance Minister said. He added that Malta had been the one to break the silence on reservations held by several EU countries. Scicluna said it was more an issue of concern – rather than a threat – to Malta's sector. The council conclusion "stress- es the need to find common, yet f lexible, solutions at the EU level consistent with OECD BEPS con- clusions, paying specific attention to compliance with EU Treaty freedoms and competences and supports an effective, swift and coordinated implementation by Member States of the anti-BEPS measures to be adopted at EU level." Among others, it also "stresses that unfair tax competition be- tween Member States as well as between the latter and third coun- tries could affect the functioning of the Single Market, whilst ac- knowledging the importance of taxation for competitiveness". The two Council Conclusions agreed on Tuesday will be passed on to the European Commission to draft legislation on taxation. The Commission has been urged to find "a common yet f lexible ap- proach". "This is a big success in view of our specificities," Scicluna said. Alongside Ireland and Cyprus, Malta reiterated that the effective level of taxation should remain one of national competence. It is understood that, whilst Malta will be ready to take part in dis- cussion, it will also be able to re- tain the right to veto. Referring to the Council Con- clusion on the Code of Conduct on business taxation, Scicluna said the three countries obtained consensus for their proposal. "I am extremely satisfied that an acceptable compromise was found in both instances," Sciclu- na said. Ten member states also agreed on some aspects of a harmonised tax on financial transactions and gave themselves until the middle of next year to reach agreement on remaining issues, including tax rates. Talks on a financial-transac- tion tax (FTT) have been going on since 2011 and the remain- ing member states are Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, Slov- enia and Spain. Estonia pulled out. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD EU finance ministers want to find common, flexible solutions at EU level Humans – not quite a match to substitute the thrill of animals