Minister Carmelo Abela emphasised the need to absorb all the European funds that our country has acquired and explained how MEUSAC is being strengthened so that this can be ensured. This was stated while addressing the launch of the week of activities by MEUSAC, with the theme of ‘Making the European Union more accessible to you’.
Between the 2nd and 6th November, MEUSAC will be launching a number of online activities in order to raise awareness on how Maltese citizens can benefit more from the country’s membership in the European Union. The activities impact various categories in society with information on rights and obligations, benefits and opportunities, including European funding, the launch of a story booklet for children, and discussions on various current topics linked to the European Union, including the sustainable economy, equality and Malta’s role in the European Union.
Minister Carmelo Abela said that government, through MEUSAC, is managing to deliver an efficient and value-added service to citizens, whether they apply for European Union funds, provide their opinion on legislative and Union policy proposals, or wish to be updated with what is going on in the Union.
He said that despite what we are currently going through – more than 30 different activities have taken place since January to date. MEUSAC officials together with the Foundation for Education Services brought the European Union to 400 children of SkolaSajf. Apart from funding assistance, MEUSAC has helped many NGOs, local councils, government entities and schools – with around 240 individual meetings where 91 project applications having been submitted in areas such as education, infrastructure in the communities, as well as improvements in the environment. “This is not the point of arrival, but an incentive to work harder to make the European Union more accessible to citizens of our country. We will ensure that the European funds that our country has acquired will have the greatest impact on everyday life. We want to see that our country utilises all these funds and does so with the best kind of projects to bring about the best changes to the daily lives of our citizens”, said the minister.
Minister Abela recalled how on 24th of September, the Malta EU and Steering Action Committee (MEUSAC) was honoured with the Award for Quality Service in the Public Service. “MEUSAC can be considered a reliable government agency. But to bring more people to the services we need to show them that we can help. It is in this context that today we are launching this week of different activities related to the European Union”, concluded the minister.
Head of MEUSAC Mandy Falzon said that one of the greatest challenges MEUSAC faces is explaining what the European Union is, how it works and how it affects us in everyday life. Every day, in a number of ways, we try to explain how the European Union offers various services to citizens, such as rights when buying goods and services or travelling. We constantly explain to children how to be active citizens of the European Union and that perhaps although they have different cultures than children in other countries, they can live together. Part of our mission is to show that the European Union is not only a list of rules we have to follow but also a way in which organisations, with their limitations, can still access funds that are essential to carry out their mission.
The launch of this week of activities continued with an information session on services related to the European Union located in Malta. Through this activity, the Head of MEUSAC and the heads of the European Commission and European Parliament Representations in Malta talked about the services that they provide to European citizens in our country. Officials from 11 entities joined them and spoke about employment services, funds, training, health, consumers and businesses, among others. More information on the MEUSAC’s week of activities can be found at www.meusac.gov.mt.