European Foundation
for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions

The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist
in the development of better social, employment and
work-related policies

EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure MT-2021-18/2754 – measures in Malta

Energy audits in small and medium sized enterprises

Country Malta , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 01 May 2021
Context Green Transition
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future
– Support for spending, stimulus packages
Author Luke Anthony Fiorini (University of Malta) and Eurofound
Measure added 16 August 2022 (updated 19 June 2023)

Background information

The Energy and Water Agency is the entity that administers the implementation of Regulation 10 of the transposition of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). Regulation 10 regards the auditing of energy in the Energy Efficiency Regulations (S.L. 545.33).

Subsequently, the Energy and Water Agency administered a financial measure to support SMEs that are conducting an energy audit.

Content of measure

The scheme is split in two. One scheme targets enterprises listed under the De Minimis Regulation, and the other targets organisations eligible under the General Block Exemption Regulations.

Support is provided for SMEs conducting energy audits by certified energy auditors, chosen from a list of energy auditors provided by the Regulator for Energy and Water Sources (REWS). In order to use the financial incentives provided by the measure, organisations need to obtain approval prior to conducting the audit. The amount that can be received by the enterprise can range from €1,000 to €5,000. Medium sized enterprises can obtain greater financial support that small sized enterprises, with organisations within NACE Code C and I receiving greater support than organisations in other NACE codes.

Use of measure

No information available.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers SMEs
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

The involvement of social partners in the designing of this specific measure is unknown. It is notable, however, that employer associations have been publicly requesting schemes that support organisations to make the green transition. For example, pre-2023 budget documents by the Malta Employers' Association, as well as the Malta Chamber call for measures that aid organisations to improve their energy efficiency. Employer associations have also organised meetings for their members to foster awareness of national measures that can be used to support organisations to improve energy efficiency.

Views and reactions

Views and reactions to this specific measure could not be found. However, the government works to make employers aware of the measures available by packaging them together. This strategy received positive public support from Malta Chamber President Marisa Xuereb and Malta Chamber of SMEs President Paul Abela.

The Malta Business Bureau (a collaboration between the Malta Chamber and Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association) and The Malta Chamber individually are providing assistance to SMEs to apply for the energy audit grant

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Energy audits in small and medium sized enterprises, measure MT-2021-18/2754 (measures in Malta), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/MT-2021-18_2754.html

Share

Eurofound publications based on EU PolicyWatch

30 January 2023

 

Measures to lessen the impact of the inflation and energy crisis on citizens

Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.

Article

12 September 2022

 

First responses to cushion the impact of inflation on citizens

Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Article

12 September 2022

 

Policies to support EU companies affected by the war in Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.

Article

5 July 2022

 

Policies to support refugees from Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Article

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.