Taking place from 14 to 18 October, the week includes 623 events around EU countries with the aim of highlighting the benefits that vocational education and training (VET) can bring to people. The event series also aims to raise awareness about the work presented by the people in the field of vocational education and training.

“Vocational education is an excellent first education choice, providing people with the skills needed for the 21st-century labour market and opening up many career possibilities. I have been trying to get this message across during my mandate, through initiatives such as the European Vocational Skills Week and with the help of our VET Ambassadors,” said Marianne Thyssen, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.

Mr Mallia, Julinu, expressed his encouragement toward people in looking out for the range of career options and vocational courses available in Malta these days. He also highlighted the ability of vocational skills in opening doors and opportunities to different professions and trades, such as a carpenter, an electrician, an engineer, a designer, a musician, a salesperson and others.

The Maltese artist has also spoken about the decision of investing time and effort in working areas related to our personal interests.

“In today’s ever-changing work environment, it makes more sense to invest in the areas that one genuinely cares about regardless of age.”

Julian Mallia, Julinu, Malta’s Ambassador for the 2019 European Vocational Skills Week.

“I myself was already a psychology graduate when I decided to shift to visual arts. So, changing one’s area of expertise, should not be out of the question,” added Mr Mallia.

Last year, more than 1,800 events took place in 45 countries — including Malta — during the third edition of the Vocational Skills Week.

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The meeting took place on the sidelines of the European Development Days (EDD). The EDD is Europe’s leading forum on development and has been held every year since 2006. This event is organised by the European Commission and brings the development community together to share ideas. Moreover, it experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, as the DOI press statement says.

This year’s theme was “Addressing inequalities: Building a world which leaves no one behind”. It was chosen especially in view of the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum, during which the UN will take stock of the deliverance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.

Malta’s presence at the EDD highlighted the country’s longstanding commitment to development and the implementation of the SDGs, the government press release insists. Taking the floor at a discussion under the theme “In search of equality: Migration, forced displacement, and the SDGs”, Minister Carmelo Abela stressed the need for a comprehensive regional and global approach to migration, a balanced narrative on the phenomenon, and the direct involvement of the youth to achieve lasting solutions.

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The “Valletta – MALTA” information session will take place at the European Commission Representation in Malta, Dar l-Ewropa, 254 Triq San Pawl, Valletta, in order to provide further information and to allow potential tenderers to ask questions. DG Translation is organising information seminars in most EU capitals.

Companies, as well as interested individuals or potential consortia, are invited. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to give everyone interested a chance to participate, the EC kindly asks companies and organisations to limit their presence to two people, the press statement says.

Registrations for the event are accepted through email. On the day of the event, registration accompanied by a brief networking reception starts at 10:30, which is followed by the information session between 11.00 and 13.30.

The Prior Information Notice offers more details about the EC’s call for translation services.

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Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri welcomed the result and urged for further educating the youth improving their skills in the sector, according to a press statement by the government’s Department of Information (DOI).

“While Malta’s digital infrastructure is at the forefront as reflected in the DESI assessment itself, our next challenge is to enhance the existing skills and that of future generations which are now required in most jobs,” Mr Schembri said.

Malta also ranked second in terms of the take-up of fast broadband available to households. In 2018, some 69% of households were equipped with fast broadband service while the European average stood at 41%. Mobile broadband take-up was up to 97% in 2018, from 65% in 2016.

At the same time, when addressing the DESI results, Mr Schembri also highlighted the importance of gender equality in the workplace. “While as a country we have moved fast in the digital space, we are still lagging behind in female participation in the ICT sector. Hence, as a government, we are committed to boosting our efforts in encouraging women to pursue a career in this industry,” he said.

In addition to comparing the EU28 countries, the bloc is also compared to 17 other countries internationally by the International Digital Economy and Society Index (I-DESI). While the top four DESI scoring EU countries come as second after South Korea — and before Norway — on the I-DESI list, the EU average fits well into the international average, according to this measure.

The I-DESI utilises 24 datasets to analyse and compare 45 countries — the EU28 and 17 non-EU. The comparison is made based on five dimensions developed by DESI; connectivity, digital skills, citizens use of internet, business technology integration and digital public services.

The full study is available for public download at the website of the European Commission.

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“To this effect, all government departments have officially commenced with studies in order to cost the extent of all damages,” the government’s Department of Information said in a press statement.

Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia contacted European Commissioners Corina Cretu and Christos Stylianides to inform them that such studies had commenced and that Malta will be formally triggering the process of tapping into the fund.

Malta was subject to a trembling storm over the weekend, especially Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The storm uprooted trees, tore down utility cables, left basements flooded and damaged vehicles and kiosks near the shoreline, leaving substantial damage in buildings as well.

Gale-force and severe Gale-force winds battered all over the island, in places exceeding 100 km/h in strength, according to weather and news reports.

Due to the highly unfavourable weather conditions, Virtu Ferries connecting Malta to Sicily cancelled routes for 24 and 25 February, and added extra services as of 26 February.

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The economic forecast describes picking up domestic demand replacing net exports, hence becoming the primary driver of growth as of Q2 2018. The EC talks about a “buoyant private consumption”, which they believe reflects strong employment growth, increasing disposable income and a massive accumulation of savings in the past years.

The forecast also mentions that the country’s export growth slowed due to a weaker external environment, as well as a decrease in goods export, while imports started recovering due to strong domestic demand.

“I am impressed by the European Commission’s forecast which, has once again, revised its forecast for our economy against a weaker external environment upwards,” says Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna, according to a press release issued by the Department of Information of the Maltese government on Thursday. “The Commission has downgraded the Eurozone’s economic forecast amid Brexit and trade tensions,” the minister adds.

Although the commission forecasts further GDP growth of 5.2% and 4.6% in 2019 and 2020, respectively, the pace is thought to slow down due to moderating global demand. The speed is also seen to stay reliant on the domestic market, underpinned by high private and public consumption.

At the same time, the EC envisages large-scale infrastructure projects in the health, tourism and real estate sectors fuelling investment growth, while the current account surplus might likely remain high due to “significant trade surplus of the internationally-oriented services sector,” the report says.

The EC notes that consumer price inflation (CPI) started growing in Q2 2018, reaching 1.7% by year-end, and with materialising wage pressures and expected wage growth, the figure could gradually creep up to 1.9% in 2020.

The full report is available for download at the official website of the European Commission.

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