Scicluna plans to review Budget preparation and presentation process

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna wants to see greater synergy and integration between the Economic Policy Department within the finance ministry and other branches of government that deal with economic policy development.

Scicluna also announced plans to review the way the annual Budget documents are prepared and presented, noting that Malta's budget format is considerably outdated compared to those adopted by the majority of other European countries.

Scicluna toured the Economic Policy Department that falls within the Finance Ministry, meeting the various officials within the department, which is composed of three directorates: economic strategy, structural economic research, and international economic relations.

He was accompanied by the director of structural economic research, Godwin Mifsud and the director of economic strategy, Kevin Vella.

"This is a place very close to my heart," Scicluna said, pointing towards some of the familiar faces within the economic policy development sector. "I have personally invested in this department, and we shall certainly be seeing more of each other."

"The finance ministry, and along with it a large part of government, can only function well thanks to the solid and crucial work that is carried out within this department. They provide the tools and workings upon which we can build budgets and guide the country responsibly towards greater economic and financial sustainability."

Pledging his full support to the department and its staff, Scicluna said that he plans to meet with the respective directorates' heads to discuss issues and determine ways to maximise integration between the EPD and the ministry.

This, he said, is fully in line with the government's commitment to be "a government that listens, a government that works, and a government that delivers."