Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1088108
18 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 MARCH 2019 COMMERCIAL THE international project AQUARES, co-financed by European Union funds under the Interreg Eu- rope Programme, was launched in the Murcia Region of Spain (Murcia Re- gion as a lead partner of the project) at the beginning of June 2018. A to- tal of 10 organisations from nine EU countries are involved in the project. Apart from the Murcia Region, the project is represented by representa- tives from Greece, Poland, Malta, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia, Spain and Czech Republic. The objective of the AQUARES pro- ject is to improve policy tools and wa- ter management concepts by integrat- ing wastewater reuse into national, regional and local development plans to promote the efficient use of waste- water resources. The project will in- crease the ability of public authorities to propose legislative changes con- cerning the water and drinking water framework directives. The project al- so puts emphasis on best practices to ensure compliance with water quality standards and promotes the adoption of sustainable development and eco- innovation in agriculture, industry, urban and recreational areas. Last but not least, the project draws on the ex- perience of partner countries through the adoption of technological and managerial innovations in the area of water reuse in various sectors. The project is implemented in two phases. In the first phase of the pro- ject (from 2018 to 2020), key project activities will be implemented. From 2021 to 2022, in the second verifica- tion phase of the project, these pro- posed improvements will be tested and monitored by target group rep- resentatives. The AQUARES project consortium partners will not only monitor and test identified water reuse practices in the second phase, but will also inform the relevant Eu- ropean institutions about the imple- mentation and usefulness of project results. The AQUARES project is 85% co- funded by the European Union under the Interreg Europe Program. At present, project partners are pre- paring for a second project meeting and the first international workshop (27-29 March 2019, Milan) on water recycling technologies organized by the Lombardy Environmental Foun- dation (FLA). The methodology for assessing technologies and practices for water reuse is also being prepared by the Institute of European and Mediterranean Waters from Spain. Part of the methodology is a ques- tionnaire distributed by the project partners among their target groups, and the obtained data will use RRA PK to create an Application Guide for water reuse technology. As part of the project activities, meetings and seminars will be held both for representatives of companies and for the general public. Should anyone be interested in at- tending these meetings, information on dates and venues, please send an email on info-energywateragency@gov.mt. For further information on the pro- ject, please view either the project website: www.interregeurope.eu/ aquares, or the Energy and Water Agency's website: https://www.en- ergywateragency.gov.mt/uncatego- rized/aquares-project/ Water re-use policies advancement for resource efficient European regions TWO years ago, the Mosta Cycling Club launched its Mosta Tri Team with Express Trailers as its main sponsor. Over the last two seasons club membership participating in triathlon has increased to the extent that today, the club with around 30 registered triathletes is the most represented club with the Malta Triathlon Federation. "Through our financial support to volun- tary sports organisations such as the Mosta Cycling Club and its Triathlon Team, we seek to assist them as they bring up not on- ly athletes but role models that can inspire our youth towards a more active lifestyle," said Franco Azzopardi, Chairman and CEO of Express Trailers. "Winning is a celebration of effort and success. However, it remains a finite state. The clubs' objectives should also be to give opportunities of coaching and competitive participation to those who want competition. Above all, being in a club is an opportunity for belonging to a group that encourages healthy cama- raderie and active lifestyle. We are de- lighted to be part of these clubs' noble endeavours to give this opportunity to so many people of any age and ability," he said. Recent successes for the Mosta Tri Team included second and third overall placings for our Wayne Spiteri and Bernard Sant in the National Triathlon Championship in which other athletes of ours, also placed first in the various age groups. Excellent results were also achieved in the latest edition of the Tramuntana Winter Triathlon Challenge where Nikol Micallef placed 1st and Malcolm Vassallo placed 2nd. Express Trailers has been supporting road sports particularly road running and cycling events for a number of years. This support is also spurred by the company's commitment to promote road safety espe- cially with regards to runners and cyclists who amongst the most vulnerable on the road. " Express Trailers strengthens Mosta Tri Team The Mosta Tri Team APS Bank presented its 2019– 2021 Business Plan to all staff at a Townhall meeting held on 15 February, 2019 at the Corinthia St George's Bay Hotel. The Plan, the fruit of ten months of intensive mar- ket analysis, consultation and discussion, provides key stra- tegic direction for the years ahead. APS Bank's renewed mission is to make the bank- ing experience simpler and more personal, inspired by a commitment to social, eco- nomic and environmental progress while providing all stakeholders with opportuni- ties to grow. Hervé Delpech, Head of Strategy and Marketing, pre- sented the Plan at a highly engaging and interactive event which brought together close to 400 employees. He explained how the priority is to make APS the leading com- munity bank. The process has also seen the Bank sharpening its core values, to place a fo- cus on excellence, authentic- ity, passion, inclusiveness and being contemporary. Going forward these beliefs will be anchored in every product and service the Bank provides and every channel it operates. Marcel Cassar, APS Bank CEO, commented: "The fact that APS is an increasingly important bank for the Mal- tese system puts on us respon- sibilities as well as challenges. The Plan is our roadmap to achieve that, it belongs to all of us and will only be effective to the extent that we make it our very own." APS Bank transformation continues Herve Delpech presenting at the APS Bank 'Townhall' meeting