Bizzilla lace to be protected by EU law

Two reports on which Marlene Mizzi was the S&D spokesperson, were approved by an overwhelming majority in their respective Parliament's committees.

Today, MEPs in the internal market and consumer protection committee in the European Parliament backed a strategic report on the Single Market.

Mizzi expressed her satisfaction at the fact that MEPs approved her amendment on the importance of ‘MADE-IN’ label.

“I believe, that it is important for consumers to know where the products have been made. We also agreed to establish a single European System for the protection of geographical indications for non-food products, meaning that products such as the Maltese lace Bizzilla will be protected and not produced in any other country."

The report is the parliament's contribution to the Commission’s proposal for a new single market strategy under which, 22 targeted actions will be delivered in order to make the best use of the single market and deliver positive results for consumers, SME and start-ups, innovative services and professionals.

Speaking immediately after the vote, Mizzi said “more than ever, we need to turn the focus back to the people. New holistic vision on the single market based on green and knowledge-based social market economy, will improve the wellbeing of European citizens. Single Market needs real solutions and practical measures to guarantee equal treatment and social inclusion, creation of sustainable jobs and growth and high level of consumer protection."

"The Commission's strategy needs to be more ambitious. I will not accept any trade-off of social rights or safety for consumers, and for me it is important to make sure that the European social model is an integral part of the single market. I am pleased with the positive results achieved by our group in the report restoring the progressive, social vision of the Commission strategy and of the Single Market."

Many of the amendments tabled by MEP Marlene Mizzi were adopted with a big majority and in particular those calling for common criteria and definition of ‘innovative’ start-ups, SMEs and social economy enterprises, facilitating access to credit, financing, information and taxation regimes for SMEs.

"It is time to realise that bring back consumers', citizens' workers' and SMEs hope and confidence in the single market project could be achieved only by safeguarding their interests and by fully integrating their rights into the EU legislation".

 In addition, the PETI Committee also approved with an overwhelming majority opinion on the monitoring the application of EU law on which Marlene Mizzi was also the main S&D spokesperson.