European Commission

December 2008

01 December - National Day of Romania

November 2008

18th - National Day of the Republic of Latvia

                         ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

     THE EVOLUTION OF THE IDEA OF A PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Commemorating the Abbé de Saint-Pierre and his contribution to Peace and European unity

Date: Wednesday 19 November 2008

Time: 7.00 pm

Venue: Aula Magna, Old University Building, St Paul Street, Valletta

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the European Parliament and the 350th anniversary of the birth of Charles Irenée Castel de Saint-Pierre better known as l’abbé de Saint-Pierre. Throughout his life, Saint-Pierre wrote many projects on a wide range of subjects. However, the one closest to his heart and which he promoted with the greatest vigour was no doubt the Project for Perpetual Peace and its abridged version, the Abrégé, written with the aim of establishing lasting peace in Europe. In this Project, Saint-Pierre proposes the institution of a European Assembly in a “City of Peace”.

A publication edited by Professor Roderick Pace with a translation of Saint-Pierre’s 1729 Abrégé by Professor Carmen Depasquale and related articles by Professors Pace and Depasquale together with a Preface by Professor Peter van den Dungen will commemorate these two events. The publication, which is supported by the Office of the European Parliament, Valletta, will be launched.

A reception will follow - The general public is cordially invited

For more information please contact

Ms. Romina Zammit,

European Documentation and Research Centre (EDRC)

Tel: (356) 23402136

E-mail:romina.zammit@um.edu.mt

European Youth Week 2008: The future challenges for youth on the top of the agenda

2 - 9 November 2008

The future challenges for young people will be placed at the top of the agenda during the fourth edition of the European Youth Week, to be held from 2-9 November 2008. An unprecedented number of political debates, cultural and other activities will be organised in all corners of Europe, with numerous activities taking place in Brussels for some 200 selected young participants.

Literally hundreds of events and activities will be organised in all countries participating in the EU's Youth in Action programme. These range from political debates at local, regional and national level, where young Europeans will be discussing the future challenges facing young people, to cultural events and activities linked to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

The event in Brussels is organised in close co-operation with the European Youth Forum (EYF). The young people selected by National Youth Councils and the EYF will have exchanges with the EU institutions on the future challenges for youth, which will culminate in a political discussion (on 6 November) with Commissioner Ján Figel' and other representatives of the European Commission, as well as European Parliamentarians. These debates represent an important part of the Commission's consultations with young people prior to the forthcoming review of the political framework for co-operation in the field of youth that is due in the spring of 2009.

Activities organised by the agencies of the Youth in Action programme and their local partners in the different countries will contribute to the overall objective of the European Youth Weeks: providing youth with a platform and an opportunity to participate and make their voice heard.

More information:

European Commission's Youth homepage

Youth portal

Youth in Action Programme overview

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

An Integrated Maritime Policy Prescription for Malta: Tapping Opportunities for Economic Growth

30 October 2008

The Malta Business Bureau (MBB) is organising a half-day seminar on the EU’s future maritime policy entitled ‘An integrated maritime policy prescription for Malta: Tapping opportunities for economic growth’ aiming at generating an in-depth policy discussion on the implications for business, public authorities and other civil society stakeholders on the formulation of an integrated maritime policy for Malta. This national conference is being organized within the framework of the annual Open Days of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union.

Speakers include the Hon. Minister Austin Gatt, Ms. Joanna Darmanin who is the head of Cabinet of Maltese Commissioner Joe Borg) and Dr Joanna Drake, the Head of the Commission Representation in Malta. Additionally, various panelists from leading businesses operating in the various sectors of the maritime industry as well as the regulatory authorities will interact in two panel discussions on the development of Malta as a regional and European maritime transport hub and on chartering the way forward for the further development of the maritime leisure tourism industry on the islands.

The conference is being held on Thursday 30th October at the Malta Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise, Exchange Buildings, in Republic Street, Valletta, from 08.30 till 12.30 hrs.

Full Programme [112 KB]         Speech [31 KB] delivered by Dr. Joanna Drake, Head of Representation

The event is free of charge, however seating capacity is limited and registration is therefore required. To register, or to obtain further information please contact Mr Pedro Fernandez Alvarez by email on pfalvarez@mbb.org.mt or on telephone numbers 21251719/21233873.

LIVE on Radio 101 with Monica Attard

Phone in with your questions

Friday 10th October - Joanna Drake LIVE on Radio 101 at 1215hrs

Friday 17th October - Edward Demicoli (Press Officer) Live on Radio 101 at 1215hrs

Friday 24th October - Edward Demicoli (Press Officer) Live on Radio 101 at 1215hrs

Friday 31st October - Edward Demicoli (Press Officer) Live on Radio 101 at 1215hrs

September 2008

Juvenes Translatores 2008 - time to register!

We are delighted to announce that the registration period for Juvenes Translatores is now open.

On 27 November 2008 pupils born in 1991 from up to 690 schools in the EU will try their hand at translation in a contest organised by the European Commission's translation department. The contest is being organised to promote foreign language usage in Europe, as well as the particular art of translation.

Who can participate?

Any secondary school in Europe can apply - by registering by 20 October. Shortly afterwards, the schools that will participate in the contest will be randomly selected by the Commission.

By 12 November, the selected schools must submit the names of up to four pupils, together with the language pairs they have chosen for the contest.

The pupils are free to choose any pair from among the EU's 23 official languages. For best results, however, professional translators normally translate into their mother tongue or strongest language (the one they feel most comfortable in). See About translation.

The translations will be evaluated by professional translators at the European Commission and the winners invited to Brussels in 2009 for an award ceremony where they can meet each other as well as some of the EU translators.

For more information and relevant links please click here.

EURODOC is a training programme that has become indispensable for coproducing documentaries in Europe.  Producing creative documentaries recquires increasingly more funding which is difficult to find at national levels whatever the size of the country. Things are moving fast, very fast.  Constant training remains vital.

In 2009, EURODOC is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and more than 100 films!  It is already a strong, influent network to face the rapid changes in the documentary sectory - in total more than 485 professionals from 37 European & Mediterranean countries.

Eurodoc brochure [305 KB] and an application form [344 KB]

Deadline for application: 4th December 2008

For more information please visit the official website by clicking here

European Development Days

DG DEV - "Planning ahead"

"media & development" Forum being organised in Burkina Faso with the African Union from 11-13/09/08 For more details please check the website. 

the Natali Prize for development journalism, whose submission deadline is extended to the end of July http://www.nataliprize2008.eu/en/

a Call for proposals for audio-visual co-productions is now open for applications. The aim is to support tv productions aimed at young people for broadcast on public TV channels. More details are available online.

The closing date for applications is 6 October

Cultures on my Street

The EU launced an International Photographic Competition with the theme "Cultures on my Street" There were over 2000 entries from all over Europe. One of the photos from Malta made it with the last 20 finalists.  The photo is entitled "Afro-Chinese Encounter".

It is now voting time - register on online and cast your vote. Voting is open till the 8th of August and you may log in as many times as you want.  By voting you are entering in a draw to win a digital camera.

The Reform Treaty: Citizenship

The European Documentation and Research Centre (EDRC) in conjunction with the Malta European Studies Association (MESA) with the support of the European Commission announces the sixth seminar in this year’s series.

Date: Tuesday 8th July 2008

Title: “The Future Of Citizenship in the European Union: With or Without Lisbon "

Main speaker - Professor Jo Shaw - Salvesen Chair of European Institutions at the University of Edinburgh, and Co-Director of the Edinburgh Europa Institute

June 2008

International Day in Support of Torture Victims 26th June

More information is available online at www.ec.europa.eu/europeaid

SME Forum: Adapting to change

Forum Malta fl-Ewropa and the GRTU are organising a forum in order to promote debate, outline various avenues that may be taken into account, and address issues that may be of interest. It shall also serve as a meeting place for small businessman, innovators, entrepreneurs and government officials to discuss the key drivers for economic competitiveness and the challenges faced.

Date: Tuesday 24th June

The aim of the event, which will be chaired by Vanessa Macdonald is to bring together small businesses and innovators, entrepreneurs and government officials to discuss the key drivers for economic competitiveness and the challenges faced. The opening address will be given by Hon Tonio Fenech, Minister for Finance, Economy and Investment. Other speakers will include Luc Hendrickx (Director of Enterprise. Policy and External Relations – UEAPME), Alan Camilleri (Chairman – Malta Enterprise), Vince Farrugia (Director General – GRTU), Dr Gabriella Pace (CEO – Forum Malta fl-Ewropa) and John Aquilina (CEO – Management Efficiency Unit, OPM). The programme also includes four parallel workshops which will focus on access to finance, better regulation, health and safety and consumer protection issues. Further details as well as a Conference Prorgamme and Registration Form are attached herewith for your perusal.

A European Campaign on Risk Assessment

EU-OSHA’s new European campaign focuses on Risk Assessment, and engages a wide range of businesses and organisations in all Member States over the next two years. More information is available online.

MAY 2008

Spring Day & Europe Day Activities 2008

The European Commission Representation in Malta in collaboration with the European Parliament Information Office, the Europe Direct Relay, the Forum Malta in Europe (within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the Education Department will be organising a number of events as part of Spring Day Activities and also to commemorate Europe Day on 9th May 2008. The themes chosen for this year's events are 'Intercultural Dialogue' and 'Energy & Climate change', given the interest and awareness that Maltese children have in the EU environmental agenda and the relevance of the EU climate change action plan to coastal areas like Malta. Both themes will feature in activities that the organisers are planning together with various schools.

A programme indicating all the activities will be launched at a press conference shortly.

More information about the origin of the project [22 KB] ? and How to obtain information or take part [17 KB] are available online.

Europe Day 2008 in Malta

Spring Day National Project in Malta

10th European Film Festival in Malta & Gozo

10TH Edition of the European Film Festival

12th April – 8th May 2007

Once again this year, the European Commission Representation in Malta will be organising the 10th Edition of the European Film Festival which will be launched on Saturday, 12th April 2008.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this Festival, the Representation is proposing to offer Maltese audiences not only films from the EU Member States but also from outside the European Union. 2008 is dedicated to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and the Representation is happy to contribute to this joint initiative of the European Union, the Member States and the European civil society and to link this very important annual event on our calendar to the celebration of diversity, not only within Europe, but also across the five continents from where this year's films will be sourced.

This edition will feature a variety of films from twenty-two Member States including Malta as well as one each from Australia, China, Egypt and the United States. Twenty-four films are being presented at St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity which is the National Co-ordinating Body for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, and two at the Citadel Theatre, Gozo for Gozitan audiences.

PRESS RELEASE [37 KB]      FILM SCHEDULE [84 KB] A souvenir booklet of the Festival is available on demand at the EC Representation in Malta at Ta' Xbiex (tel: 234 25 100)

Public Debate on Immigration

29th March 2008

The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit (FTZ), with the support of the Forum Malta fl-Ewropa (FME) and UHM, is this year implementing a project, SAY EU, AND... ACTION!, funded mainly by the European Commission through its Representation Office in Malta, as part of its Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate. Plan D was launched by Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström to face the challenge of gaining the citizens’ trust and confidence in the European project. The Plan aims to learn how ordinary citizens can be involved in the EU decision-making and how they view the EU's future, responding to a basic value of the EU in the 21st century, that of active citizenship.

The workshop focus on the perspective of the Maltese civil society. The participants will be asked to vote for a number of recommendations which have been formulated through the two focus groups organized earlier, and through previous (2006-07) Plan D citizens’ projects implemented in other European countries. This will ensure that the project will have a concrete outcome, with specific recommendations to be presented to the EU institutions. Full Press Release [39 KB]

FEBRUARY 2008 EVENTS 

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in Malta

February 22nd official opening

As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, Malta will carry out a project co-financed by the MTAC with project leader St. James Cavalier and project coordinator Atelier.  Four Maltese NGOs will also assist including the Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, Community of Maltese Artists, Patrick Fenech and Fondazzjoni Arkdo.  

More information is available online at St James Cavalier website under EU projects section or on the EU webite dedicated to Intercultural Dialaogue For more information please contact euproject@sjcav.org

The Covenant of Mayors: The Contribution of local actors towards a sustainable Europe

The Covenant of Mayors is a new, ambitious initiative of the European Commission that will bring together the mayors of Europe's most pioneering cities in a permanent network to exchange and apply good practices across these cities and beyond to improve energy efficiency significantly in the urban environment.  Event was held in Brussels. For more information please click here

Europe Close To You Fair

The European Commission Representation in Malta in collaboration with the European Parliament Office in Valletta and the National Euro Change Over Committee (NECC) organised the 3rd Edition of the ' Europe Close to You fair' at Freedom Square, Valletta between 9th to 12th January 2008. The fair targeted school children in the morning and the public throughout. The selected theme for this year's event was the EURO. Information available at the fair aimed at helping people obtain answers to their EU queries.

The participants for this year's fair include: Culture 2000, Media Desk, European Consumer Centre (ECC), European Documentation Centre (EDC), European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA), European Employment Services (EURES), Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform, Europe Direct Relay, European Parliament Valletta, Forum Malta Fl-Ewropa, Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit (FTZ), Ministry of Education (MOED), National Academic Recognition Info Centre (NARIC), National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC), Solvit, and the European Commission Representation Office in Malta.

Breakfast meeting: "A Single European Market for All"

Introduction by Dr Joanna Drake – Head of the Representation

Power point presentation [2 MB] by Dr Elena Grech (DG MARKT)

Q&A [13 KB] : Questions raised by Stakeholders and by the media on SMR and Answers by the panel are online.

EUROPEAN TOURISM FORUM 2007

Sustainable Management of Tourism Destinations:

Watch the 6th European Tourism Forum live webstreaming in EN, FR, DE and PT. Just click on the following link: http://www.managenergy.tv/me_portal/ent/ETF

Official programme and more information for the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) Awards Ceremony availble online. TOURISM PILOT PROJECT - EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS OF EXCELLENCE - THE 10 WINNERS OF THE FIRST EDITION (2007). NADUR (Malta) is among the winners.

European Mobility Week 2007 - 16 to 22 September 2007

European cities and towns had the opportunity to participate to the most widespread event on sustainable mobility, the European Mobility Week. For more information click here