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OUR MISSION
Our mission is to assist
Malta’s involvement in the formulation of
EU Commission initiatives and to enhance bilateral
relations with third countries in areas administered
by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment.
GENERAL FUNCTIONS
The main functions of the
Directorate for European Union and International
Affairs is to
develop, coordinate and implement EU-related policies
through our Permanent Representation in Brussels with
the assistance of departments and entities that fall
under the Ministry of Education, Culture Youth & Sport,
including :-
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Primary and Secondary Education |
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Post Secondary and Tertiary Education |
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Youth |
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Sports |
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Libraries |
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Archives |
The Directorate is also involved in issues raised
at international organizations including the Council
of Europe, Commonwealth, UNESCO, EuroMed, the Barcelona
Process, and other international fora.
The Directorate is also responsible for EU funded
projects falling under the 2004 to 2006 Programme,
including:-
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Pre-Accession Funds |
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Transitional Facility |
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European Social Fund (ESF) |
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European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF) |
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Interreg Funds |
The Maltese economy has benefited through a number
of projects under these programmes by assisting departments
and entities falling under this Ministry to launch
and develop initiatives that enhance education, retraining
and employment efforts.
The EU and International Relations Directorate it
is also responsible for ad-hoc EU funded programmes
which are administered by the European Union Programmes
Agency that is responsible for a number of programmes:-
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Socrates |
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Leonardo da Vinci |
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Grudtvig |
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Youth Programme |
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Commenius |
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Erasmus |
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Lingua |
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Minerva |
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Tempus |
Prior to the new Cabinet setup following the General
Elections of March 2008, the sector of Employment fell
under the Ministry's responsibility and Culture formed
part of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS: EU MATTERS
The Directorate assists
in the implementation of EU related priorities, by
liaising with the Maltese
Permanent
Mission in Brussels through the EU Secretariat
at the Office of the Prime Minister, with the other
EU Directorates
located at the other Ministries, and with technical
experts in departments and entities that fall
under
this Ministry in the preparation of position papers,
memoranda and reports. These departments and entities
include:-
PUBLIC SECTOR
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Education Division |
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Foundation for Tomorrow Schools |
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Commission for Higher Education |
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Sudents’ Maintenance Grants Board |
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International Schools of English Board |
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Department for Examinations |
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University of Malta |
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Foundation for International Studies |
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Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology |
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Junior College |
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Institute of Tourism Studies |
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Foundation for Human Resource Development |
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National Youth Council |
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Commonwealth Youth Forum |
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Department of Public Library |
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National Archives |
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Sports Council |
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Maltese National Commission for UNESCO |
The main tasks for the Directorate are:
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Co-ordination and attendance
of Council and Commission meetings – The Directorate
is involved in the dissemination of agendas, nomination
of officials, co-ordination and the drawing up
of Background Notes, Instruction Notes and Speaking
Notes to be used by Maltese officials participating
in these meetings. Malta’s position is drawn
up in direct consultation with the technical experts
from both the public and the private sectors. |
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EU Councils – The Directorate
follows closely all EU Council working parties
and Commission expert
meetings relating to Education, Culture, Youth
and Sport. The Directorate also prepares the pertinent
dossier for the Minister attending the Education,
Youth and Culture (EYC) Ministerial Meetings at
EU Council level. |
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Preparation of Memoranda for National
Consultation – The
Directorate coordinates the consultation process
on proposals submitted by the Commission. The Directorate
is also responsible for presenting the proposals at the Inter-Ministerial Committee for European
Union Affairs. Once approved by the Committee,
the memoranda are presented to the Government Cabinet
of Ministers for endorsement, and thereafter to
the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and EU Affairs. |
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Transposition of EU Acquis – The Directorate
monitors the transposition of the EU directives,
regulations and decisions into Maltese legislation
from its proposal stage to its transposition. It
is involved in the exchange of correspondence that
ensue once transposition is not effected on time
or in the manner not originally intended in the
EU acquis. This exchange takes three stages, i.e
Pre-Infringement Note, Formal Notice, and Reasoned
Opinion. |
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Replying to Questionnaires and other
requests related to EU - The Directorate compiles and clears
questionnaires prepared by the European Commission
and the Council of EU that form the basis of White
and Green Commission Papers. |
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Senior Programming Office – The EU Director
has the responsibility of the Senior Programming
Officer for EU Funded projects: The SPO coordinates
with the National Authorising Officer, Paying
Authority and the Implementing Authority in the
execution
of these projects. Quarterly cash flow positions
and budgetary reports are sent to the National
Authorising Officer. The European Social Funds
Projects includes the following projects:
Education
Division; ICT Training Programme, Pedagogical
Training for Non-Formal Adult Education, Training
teachers
for Higher Level Roles of Special Educational
Co-ordinators.
Foundation for Educational Services: Training
Workers for Management Roles in the Context of
School as
Community Learning Centres.
Malta College of
Arts, Science and Technology: Foundation Training
Programme for Adults with
no Formal Qualifications, Preservation of
Traditional Maltese
Crafts, Re-training and Re-skilling of Workers for Electronics Industry,
Re-training and Re-skilling of Workers for Engineering Industry, Re-training
and Re-skilling
of Workers for Building and Construction Industry; Technology Skills
for Women Returning to the Workforce.
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International Relations – The
EU Directorate co-ordinates with MFA on maters
relating to bilateral
issues with third countries and issues raised at
international organizations on matters relating
to Education. In adopting its policy position,
the directorate seeks the assistance and feedback
of departments and entities falling under Education.
The Directorate sustains the Ministry’s
initiatives with third countries to consolidate
co-operation under the operation of these agreements.
Over the past 40 years close to 50
bilateral agreements were drafted or concluded with countries across
the five continents. Particular emphasis is laid
on neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean. |
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The directorate is responsible for the granting
of English language scholarships to Italian and
Czech students. |
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The directorate covers issues that are discussed
at international fora through the formulation of
Malta’s position. |
The Directorate for EU and International Affairs
is thus involved in a wide spectrum of issues and activities.
The following were the main substantive issues
that have been tackled by the Directorate since 2006
(prior to March 2008, the Employment sector was also
administered by the Education Ministry.
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Efficiency and Equity in Education & Training |
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Vocational Education Training (VET) |
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European Qualifications Framework for lifelong
learning |
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EIT and modernisation of Europe's universities |
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European Qualifications Framework |
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Combating early school leaving |
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Efficiency and Equity in education and training |
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Modernising Higher Education in Europe |
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European Quality Charter for Mobility |
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Key Competences for Lifelong Learning |
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Proposal to develop a European teaching aid as
an introduction to the history
of the arts in Europe |
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Future of the European Schools of the EU |
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Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) |
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Finalization of the text from a legal and linguistic
point of view on the European Quality Charter for
Mobility |
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Employment guidelines |
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European Globilization Fund |
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Portability of Supplementary Pensions |
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PROGRESS |
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Accession of Bulgaria and Rumania |
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Green Paper on Labour Law |
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Working Time Directive |
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Decent Work |
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Demography |
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Employment in rural areas |
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Equal treatment |
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Flexicurity |
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Free movement of workers |
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People furthest from the labour market |
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Better Understanding and Knowledge of Youth |
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Youth In Action Programme (2007-2013) |
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Implementing common objectives for participation
by young people with a view of promoting their
active European Citizenship’ |
Downloads
website updated 27/08/08
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