Getting involved in FP7 Energy
projects can be challenging and Energy NCPs across Europe are very interested
in supporting you. One part of the challenge can be finding members of the
project consortium. To better understand the experience of partner searching a
brief survey has been set up online to determine the methods used to find these
partners. The survey includes 10 question which will take 4-8 minutes to
answer. The survey can be accessed at : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G6TVQKW
Important meeting for all
businesses regarding the New Euros introduced from May 2013. Which will require
an update to the machines that check/accept money. On 1st May 2013 the new series of Euro Bank notes will
start circulating. Starting with the €5 and next year €10.
This means that you (and your staff) should be trained
to accept and recognize these new bank notes and any machines you have that
check that the money is authentic (money checkers) or accept money (cigarette
and vending machines) need also to be
upgraded to accept the new bank notes.
GRTU is holding a training and information session
with the collaboration to the Central Bank of Malta to:
– Inform
you of the new Euros and how they will start circulating
– Inform
you on what you need to do and what support you can be given
– Show
you what the new Euro bank notes will look like and its enhanced security
features
– Train
you on how to recognize counterfeits both with the old Euros and the new
Time: 16:00 – 18.00
Venue: GRTU, Exchange Building, Republic Str,
Valletta
The meeting is free of charge only for GRTU Members
but
registration is required on 21232881 or
Vince Farrugia, Director General of
GRTU and Maltese Employers Representative at EESC was one of the speakers at
the EESC ECO (Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion)
section meeting on the own-initiative opinion on the Future of the Euro.
Vince Farrugia said that the future of
the Euro needs a to be taken within the background of what is being called the
Balkanasation of the global financial system. For three decades there was a
seemingly unstoppable increased capital mobility and integration, but after the
2008 crises all this halted abruptly. Cross border flows collapsed and today
remain at 60% below their peak.
A large factor in this drop is the
dramatic reversal of European Financial Integration. European Nations, once in
the vanguard of capital mobility are now turning inward. "This is a very serious situation for
enterprise owners as infrastructure and business investments need capital
movement if Europe is to reach out to further growth in all Member States and
in all regions. Euro Zone cross border landing since the end of 2007 has
dropped by almost 2 trillion Euros. Other types of cross border investment in
Europe have fallen by more than half", emphasized Vince Farrugia.
"I'm
not proposing a return to asset bubbles and volatility that existed in the
pre-crises period however it is important that the Euro is further strengthened
as capital mobility is essential for business and economic growth and the EESC should continue to
strive further so that the remaining barriers to healthy capital transfers are
removed. Openness to foreign investment and capital flows entails risk but also
very clear benefits. The degree of
openness and pace of movement will depend on the size and sophistication of a
country's financial sector and the strength of its regulation ad
supervision. The EESC in its opinion
should clearly aim towards this target"
It is also essential that the opinion
emphasizes that we in the Euro Zone should develop further equity and bond
capital markets as capital markets provide a crucial alternative to bank loans
and enable investors to participate in local markets. Furthermore, it is of
utmost importance that Europe establishes the Euro Zone banking Union to
restore confidence and put financial integration back on track. It is essential
that we restore confidence in the Euro Zone future and a healthy flow of
finances.
Vince Farrugia concluded his presentation by insisting on the
rapporteur to produce a more focused opinion.
GRTU believes that it is opportune
for a new reforming Government to immediately introduce a fundamental reform in
the selection of the Presidency of MCESD. This Council represents the highest
level of statutory consultation of the elected national Government with the
Social Partners and Civil Society. Government is represented on this Council and
indeed through the Principal Permanent Secretary's role as Vice-President, the
Government has a fundamental role. In GRTU's view therefore it is opportune
that government introduces, in agreement with MCESD, a new form for the
selection of the President of MCESD and a selection which is independent of
Government, as follows:
The
Presidency of MCESD becomes a roving Presidency as is practiced in the EU's
highest institutions and as is practiced by statute at the European Economic
and Social Committee.
The
Presidency becomes roving every 2 years between Employers Representatives,
Trade Union representatives and Civil Society representatives and in turn
roving among the member organisations within each group sitting on MCESD main
Council. Over a six year period all groups would thus have an opportunity to
Preside and over a longer period each organisation or Committee sitting on
Council will also have the opportunity to Preside Council and this without the
uncomfortable anxiety of selection on the part of Government.
The GRTU President also reminded the
Minister that GRTU is not in favour of the nominee for Chairman she had
recommended during their meeting. The proposal GRTU is presenting would,
however, resolve all issues of selectivity or any issue of favourable or
unfavourable comment as the selection will be up to the each representative
social partner and civil society group on Council and on a roving basis.
Government would only introduce the Rules of Procedure for approval by Council
prior to publishing as Legal Notice.
GRTU is launching the PVPFS scheme,
which GRTU has tailored with a leading local bank, that ensures that client can
find the purchasing of PVs increasingly affordable through paying by installments
without having to fork out any additional money for this improved facility.
If calculated on an average system
that would cost around €5,000, the utilization of the PVPFS would mean that the
client shall have no upfront payments to make and instead start paying the bank
a monthly fee of €75 for 3 years, which works out to the exact same amount if
they did not use the PVPFS scheme. In addition to this the client will same
circa €82.81* from the electricity bill
per month.
When working the €75 monthly payment
to the bank and €82.81 electricity saving, not only will the system be paying
itself but the client would be making a profit of around €7.81 per month. For
the next 3 years the client is guaranteed the same €0.22c feed in tariff,
totaling €993 per year. Systems are typically guaranteed for 20 years. Some PV
systems in Malta which have been installed around 30 years ago, still work.
Retailers already having a GRTU approved
certificate:
CD Power Solutions Co Ltd
Bajada New Energy Ltd
Solar Solutions Ltd
BT Commercial Ltd (Eco Save)
Solar Engineering Ltd
International Sales Direct
Through Legal Notice 3 of 2013
entitled 'Micro and Small Business Representation Regulations, 2013', it has
been recognised that for all intents and purposes, by virtue of article 17 of
the Small Business Act, GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs has the right to represent
small businesses.
The right of representation of micro
and small businesses as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of the
6th May 2003, has with the publication of this Legal Notice been vested in
GRTU.
This since GRTU is a social partner
at law in terms of article 2 of the Malta Council for Economic and Social
Development Act.
SMEST is an EU funded
project aimed to help SMEs to make the best of standards-making process. Across Europe, events are being organized at
national level in order to impart information as to how SMEs can work on developing
their businesses more effectively with the utilization of standards.
A SMEST Workshop will
be taking place in Malta
on the 8th April 2013.
This will be organized
by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) in partnership
with the SMEST Project Team. During this interactive workshop, participants
will have the possibility to learn about the benefits which SMEs can acquire
through standardization. National, European and International standards can be
used by different kinds of businesses and in the course of this workshop,
participants will be shown how they can get involved in the standard-making
processes with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of their organization.
This interactive workshop will present best practice examples that highlight
the advantages of standardization and will provide an opportunity to initiate
new relationships as well as strengthen present ones that exist between
National Standardization Institutes and SME associations.
All
those interested in participating in the SMEST workshop in Malta may do so by
filling in the Registration Form and send it by email at
by not later than Wednesday 3rd April 2013.
The Malta Competition and Consumer
Affairs Authority has been notified of a number of products which pose a
serious risk to consumers. The below details refer: Should your company retail, import or
distribute the product in question, you are requested to notify GRTU without
delays, so necessary action is taken as soon as possible.
May we remind you of the obligations
under the General Product Safety Act that manufacturers/ importers/
distributors of products on the market in Malta are required to report any
incidents occurring and involving products they represent.
Notification
1: Batch number/Barcode: EAN
8592548320785 Plush toy teddy bear, approximate size 250 mm, designed for
children from 3 years old. Packed in a transparent plastic box with a paper
insert marked: "Love Mate", "Recordable Plush Toy" and
pictograms for replacement batteries.
Dangers
Details: Choking and Chemical. The product
poses a choking and chemical risk because the battery compartment is accessible
and can be easily opened. As a result, children have access to the batteries
and may put them in the mouth and swallow them. The product does not comply
with the Toys Safety Directive and the relevant European standard EN 71-1.
Notification
2: Barcode: 5602029092520. Children's
black fancy dress outfit including a shirt, trousers, red belt, eye mask and
cape. The packaging is a transparent plastic bag with a hanger including a card
bearing the importer's details, size, model number, composition, barcode, care
instructions and warnings.
Dangers
Details: Strangulation. The product poses a
risk of strangulation due to the presence of cords with loose ends in the neck
area. The product does not comply with the relevant European standard EN 14682.
Notification
3: Barcode: 8435234911532. A set of two
dolls (a large and small one), with accessories: bag, brush, boots, baby's
bottle and buggy. The packaging is a cardboard box with a transparent window,
which bears an age warning and the importer's details.
Dangers
Details: Chemical. The product poses a
chemical risk because the small doll contains 10.5% of dibutylphthalate (DBP)
by mass. According to the REACH Regulation the phthalates DEHP, DBP and BBP are
prohibited in all toys and childcare articles, while phthalates DINP, DIDP and
DNOP are prohibited in toys or childcare articles that can be placed in the
mouth by children.
Notification
4: Small, soft, stuffed, toy brown bear
cub with white clothes – 17 cm. Sold without packaging.
Dangers
Details: Choking. The
product poses the risk of choking because small parts (eyes) could be easily
detached, put into the mouth and swallowed. The product does not comply with
the Toy Safety Directive and with the relevant European standard EN 71-1.
Notification
5: Barcode: 5602259980109. Soft toy in
the form of a yellow and red piglet with a pink snout. Packed in a transparent
plastic bag sealed with a card on which a label is affixed. The front label
indicates the item, warnings and origin, and the back label indicates the
importer's contact details, warnings, reference, barcode, CE marking and age
restriction symbol.
Dangers
Details: Choking. The product poses a risk of
choking because small parts (eyes) can be detached and swallowed by small
children. The product does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and with
the relevant European standard EN 71-1.
Notification
6: Batch number/Barcode: 6991294123626
Children´s plastic gun set with 2 sorts of plastic projectiles: 3 balls and 3
projectiles with suction cups. The packaging is a blister with a cardboard back
sheet containing information related to age grading and warnings, barcode,
importer details and playing instructions.
Dangers
Details: Chemical and Choking. The product
poses a chemical risk because the suction cups of the projectiles contain 7.24
% by weight of DEHP and 4.52 % by weight of DPB. In addition the product
contains 2.45 % by weight of DINP. According to the REACH Regulation the
phthalates DEHP, DBP and BBP are prohibited in all toys and childcare articles,
while phthalates DINP, DIDP and DNOP are prohibited in toys or childcare
articles that can be placed in the mouth by children In addition, the product
poses a risk of choking because the suction cups can be detached and could be
swallowed by small children. The product does not comply with the Toy Safety
Directive and the relevant
European standard EN 71-1.
Water Treatment – A German company offers a new system
working against scale and corrosion on a galvanic/electrolytic basis without
chemicals for water pipes, machines and applications. It does not soften the
water but neutralizes scale and corrosion, cuts costs and is suitable for any
type of pipe.
It protects metal surfaces, leading to better performance and
longer life. It is for private, commercial and industrial applications.
Partners are sought for commercial agreements with technical assistance.
Textiles – A Portuguese start up, working in the
development of new textiles, has developed an innovative range of clothes that
are capable of repelling different types of insects. The textiles treated with
repellent compounds are suitable for any person, for military applications,
working clothes or casual wearing, uniforms, bed clothes and underwear. The
company is looking for a commercial agreement with technical assistance and
technical cooperation with companies that deliver clothes for different types
of applications.
