Author: SME Chamber

The
expression of interest aims to provide traineeship opportunities, on a contract
for service basis, for registered pharmacists undertaking, or committed to
undertake, level 8 studies such as Doctorate of Pharmacy or Doctor of
Philosophy degrees, which course shall start not later than 1st October 2014.

This is
another initiative spearheaded by the Medicines Authority which aims to change
the approach between the various entities in this sector and focus on better
regulation of this important area which affects consumers on a day to day
basis.

Through
such initiatives, the Authority is taking its mission of protecting and
enhancing public health to the next level as it is creating an impact on the
future of pharmaceuticals in Malta with the provision of better equipped
professionals for the benefit of consumers. 

EASME, the
Executive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise of the European
Commission has published a Call for expression of interest for setting up of a
list of coaches for coaching activities in connection with the SME Instrument
for innovation under Horizon 2020 (see attachment). The objective of this call
for expressions of interest is to set up a list of external experts, hereafter
called "business coach(es)". The role of the business coaches is to
provide business coaching and leadership development support to companies.

The
business coaches will perform their tasks within the framework of the Horizon
2020 SME instrument. The coaching support will focus on developing
organizational capabilities to equip the beneficiaries with the necessary skills
to ensure commercial growth based on the company's SME Instrument project.
Major responsibilities are, e.g. establish the client company's strategy, agree
a coaching work plan and deliver a programme of structured face to face
coaching to address barriers to growth (complete list see call).

Experts
shall be remunerated at a fixed price of 450 euros/day worked. In addition,
travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed under the conditions set out
in the contract. The activities shall be delivered in the premises of the
participating companies. Participation in the offered coaching support is
voluntary for SME Instrument participants.

Natural
persons are invited to submit an expression of interest in accordance with the
rules set out in this call. Expressions of interest should be submitted using
the EUsurvey tool by accessing the following URL:

http://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/businesscoachesSMEI

Interested
parties should provide their full contact details, a link (URL) to a publicly
available Curriculum Vita in English language, which is significant with
respect to the specifications as described.

Essential
Experience and Qualifications:

business coaches need to
have a proven track record of at least 5 years in managing a broad range of
business issues associated with high growth, proven experience in innovation
management within SMEs, a successful track record in coaching senior management
through the development of their company's vision and strategy;

personal track record in
coaching organisations and business leaders – coaches should demonstrate an
existing successful track record as a coach;

extensive network of contacts
with expertise in a wide range of business functions;

track record in managing a
range of business issues associated with periods of high growth;

evidence of having done
similar coaching work previously (at least three references or testimonials from
Chief Executive/Managing Director/Business Owner);

qualifications (including
membership of professional bodies).

The
coaches should demonstrate a good understanding of many of the following
business areas:

strategic planning and
innovative management;

leadership and
organisational development ;

new product development,
market development and internationalisation strategy;

IPR and IA;

financial management and
investor readiness;

business improvement
(processes and operational capability);

EASME will draw up a list of
experts who meet the criteria set out in the call. The list resulting from this
call is valid for the duration of the multi-annual programme Horizon 2020.
Interested parties may submit an application at any time prior to the last
three months of validity of the list.

Before
signing a contract experts shall provide a declaration on their honour stating
that they are not in one of the situations of exclusion listed in the call,
e.g. conflict of interest, bankruptcy, profession misconduct, judgement
concerning fraud, corruption etc.

If you
are interested to become a business coach in the framework of the Horizon 2020
SME instrument please submit your express of interest using the EUsurvey tool
by accessing the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/businesscoachesSMEI

The Technical
Regulations Division has declared that it is in the phase of amending L.N. 123
of 2005 Type of Approval Agricultural or Forestry Tractors Regulations, 2005 by
transposing the following Regulations:

Directive
2014/43/EU of 18 March 2014 amending Annexes I, II and III to Directive
2000/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on action to be taken
against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended
to power agricultural or forestry tractors.

Directive 2000/25/EC
lays down the limit values for emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants
to be applied in successive stages, and the test procedure for internal
combustion engines intended to power agricultural or forestry tractors by
reference to the provisions of Directive 97/68/EC relating to measures against
the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion
engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery.

Technical
progress requires rapid adaptation of the technical requirements set out in the
Annexes to Directive 97/68/EC and therefore that Directive has been amended
several times. It is therefore necessary to align Directive 2000/25/EC with the
provisions of Directive 97/68/EC as amended.

Directive 2014/44/EU of 18 March 2014
amending Annexes I, II and III to Directive 2003/37/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of agricultural or forestry
tractors, their trailers and interchangeable towed machinery, together with
their systems, components and separate technical units

Directive
2003/37/EC sets up the type-approval system of agricultural and forestry
tractors, bringing it in line with the rules on type-approval of motor
vehicles.  Directive 2000/25/EC is one of
the separate directives in the framework of the type-approval system set up by
Directive 2003/37/EC.  Directive
2000/25/EC has been amended in order to include several modifications to
Directive 97/68/EC concerning adaptation to technical progress, introduction of
new emission stages, introduction of alternative type approval procedures and
implementation of flexibility schemes.

In the month
under review, the annual rate of inflation stood at 0.4 per cent, as shown in
Chart 1. A year earlier the annual rate was 0.8 per cent.

The main
downward impacts were recorded in the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and
Other Fuels Index (-0.7 percentage points), the Transport Index (-0.3
percentage points) and the Communication Index (-0.1 percentage points). This was mainly due to lower electricity
rates, airfares and prices of mobile phones.

As more than a
third of bookings in the European hotel sector are already made via real-time
online channels, SMEs are very much dependant of their proper online
visibility.

Atlas Insurance
has teamed up with emCare to provide clients with eCare, an easy to install,
telecare solution. The device works with any telephone line and any service
provider. It includes a number of functions, including a panic button, an ‘I'm
OK' button, and a reminder button, which is normally set as a medication
reminder.

"Through
this collaboration with emCare, we are pleased to be able to offer our home
clients another value-added service," said Marisa Polidano, Personal Lines
Manager. "Following on the introduction of our 24/7 emergency service, Atlas
HomeHelp, the aim of this new service is to offer our clients further peace of
mind as well as better quality of life for themselves and their families."

"We are
very pleased to be doing this collaboration with Atlas Insurance. I am sure
that Atlas clients will be able to appreciate the benefits of our eCare service
immediately, which will definitely provide them with added safety and peace of
mind in their homes," said Roland Cachia, General Manager of emCare Group
Malta.

"Clients
can also add on other devices to the system such as smoke detectors, intruder
alerts, gas detectors, fall detectors, pill dispensers and a number of other
devices depending on the specific client's needs."

Clients
may also obtain the device for their parents or grandparents. The device will be made available at the Atlas
Head Office in Ta' Xbiex, and any of our branches.

For further information, call Atlas on 8007 3434.

GRTU Deputy President Philip
Fenech has this week attended a consultation session focusing on the
preliminary proposal of the Visa Package. This legislative proposal adopted by
the European Commission is intended to shorten and simplify procedures for many
non-EU nationals wanting to enter the EU for short stays whilst maintaining
security.

During the session, Philip Fenech enquired on how the Member States
welcomed this proposal at it appears that Malta's concerns are common also in
the other Member States; however it is also clear that the majority of the
Member States will opt for the proposal to become harmonised.

Making the access to the
Schengen area easier for legitimate travellers will facilitate visiting friends
and relative and doing business. This proposal will:

Develop a Common Visa Policy which is a fundamental
component of the creation of a common area without internal borders

Establish
a Visa Code which sets out to harmonise procedures and conditions for issuing
short-stay visas

Facilitate
legitimate travel and tackle irregular immigration

Identify
further improvements that can be made to achieve a smarter common visa policy,
which also increases the attractiveness of the EU for business, researchers,
students, artists and culture professionals and which responds to current and
future challenges.

Make
it possible to lodge visa applications at other EU Member States' Consulates if
the Member

Introduce
substantial facilitation for regular travellers including issuing of multiple
entry visas valid for three years

Introduce
a simplified application form and allowing for online applications

Introduce
the possibility for Member States to devise special schemes granting visas at
the borders up to 15 days in one Schengen State

Introduce
the possibility for Member States to facilitate the issuing of visa for
visitors attending major events

Reduce
the deadline for processing and taking a decision from 15 to 10 days

Introduce
the obligation on the Central authorities consulted to reply definitely within
3 calendar days after being consulted

Further information can be
found:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/e-library/documents/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/docs/proposal_regulation_touring_visa_en.pdf

GRTU President
Paul Abela has today attended the MEUSAC core group where members present
discussed various issues with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in view
of the European Council meeting that will be held between the 26^th and 27^th of June.

During the
meeting  several issued were raised, amongst which economic growth,
competitiveness, job creation and energy. 
One of the topics addressed
during the discussion was the European Semester and the Country Specific
Recommendations. GRTU's President urged policy makers to acknowledge
elements which require immediate action as they directly impact the
competitiveness of Maltese enterprises. Mr Abela insisted that the first issue
that must be tackled is the lack of access to finance and high interest rates.
GRTU constantly appeals that access to finance to enterprises must be made
cheaper. Taking out loans from banks is costly with excessive collateral
demands, high interest rates and direct and indirect fees. Maltese businesses
need cheaper alternatives.

The issue of renewable energy was
also raised and GRTU argued that a greater push in this regard is needed
especially when it comes to investments by the private sector. Mr Abela
also brought to the attention of the Prime Minister the fact that port charges
are inherent elements that heavily affect the competitiveness of our
country and our businesses. 

The firearms
dealers section met this week to discuss a number of outstanding issues that
are negatively affecting the sector. 

High on the agenda was the
issue of the incorrect procedure used by the authorities for the transfer on
firearms between Malta and other Member States; ever since accession, out
authorities should have done away with the use of Import or Export Licences for
intra-EU trade. However Malta retained the use of trade licences in the case of
firearms and this is in clear breach of EU regulations. The only document that
should be used in such transfers is the EU Prior Consent form that is issued by
the Police. Moreover, such documents should be issued in a timely manner once
the applicant presents the original permit issued by the country of
destination.

However in practice the
Maltese authorities are taking months to process applications for the transfer
from Malta of firearms to other Member States with the consequence that local
dealers are losing opportunities to trade abroad and avail themselves of the
advantages of the single European market.  Although complaints have been
filed with the Police and the Department of Trade Services over the last few
months, there has not been any tangible progress in this regard. It is
understood that discussions are under way between the two departments and it is
hoped that a solution will be found in time to avoid the need of any action at
EU level.

Other issues that were
discussed are the unworkable thresholds of ammunition storage, the
non-implementation of the improvements to the Arms Act brought about by
LN75/2013 and the application of Police conditions that are discouraging
clients from taking their custom to dealers. Another serious issue is trading
by persons who are not licensed as dealers, leading to a distortion in the
market.

A meeting with Police
officials will be requested.