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20.02.2020 7 NEWS DUNCAN BARRY NOW in its 12th year, MEUSAC - a government agency - assists organi- sations to tap into EU funds, gathers feedback from civil society in a bid to rope them in the EU decision-mak- ing processes, and last but not least informs citizens on the latest devel- opments in the EU, including on new proposed policies and legislation, and initiatives, rights and obligations. In the EU funding sphere, MEUSAC can boast of a clear understanding of funding goals and guidelines and has helped various organisations submit competitive project applications to im- plement their dream projects. MEUSAC also hosts Europe Direct Valletta – one of many walk-in infor- mation centres found across the EU, which is an add-on to MEUSAC's in- formation services. We are one of the few government agencies in Europe that provide such services and the services are free of charge. e people we work with com- prise of citizens, representatives of various organisations, local councils and government entities, and schools. Europe Direct Valletta e Europe Direct concept was in- itiated by the European Commission in a bid to engage with citizens on EU-related topics at local and EU level. Europe Direct refers those turning to its services to specialised information services, depending on the requests re- ceived. We also organise events throughout the year, such as on Europe Day, where different EU information providers in Malta come together to serve as a one- stop shop for all things EU. Europe Direct Valletta and MEUSAC also par- ticipate in Science in the City festival (Researchers' Night) and SkolaSajf. Reaching different audiences As time goes by, MEUSAC is becom- ing more strategic in terms of its media campaign planning and article writing. Most articles are part and parcel of the various media campaigns execut- ed by its Communications and Events team. Results of media campaigns are all taken into consideration in order to ensure MEUSAC is reaching as many people as possible when it comes to conveying its EU messages or reach- ing out to NGOs and other organisa- tions who are seeking the support of the agency to tap into and apply for EU funds. In fact, MEUSAC uses the var- ious channels available, be they tradi- tional, online or mobile-based options. MEUSAC is also implementing a European Social Fund project - 'En- gage' - whereby one of the activities involved training to MEUSAC staff on how stakeholder capacity may be enhanced. Organisations were also of- fered training and mentoring sessions in stakeholder engagement, EU fund- ing and communications. e project started off in 2018 and will be coming to an end with a half-day seminar on 10 March. Policy Tracker MEUSAC has engaged in another in- itiative, the latest of a series of initia- tives, aimed at enhancing particpation in social dialogue in Malta. e MEUSAC Policy Tracker, launched in December 2019, is intend- ed to facilitate the EU decision-mak- ing process and keep stakeholders informed of the progress by the EU in- stitutions in the adoption of proposals. e tracker gives a step-by-step over- view of specific proposals. e Policy Tracker also allows stakeholders to provide their feedback on specific pol- icies through the MEUSAC website, making it much easier for interested parties to participate in the consulta- tion exercise, even if they cannot phys- ically attend MEUSAC consultation sessions. e EU decision-making process tends to be a prolonged and compli- cated affair, being frequently subject to misconceptions and fake news stories. e Policy Tracker looks to make this entire process clear, following specific policies from the European Commis- sion's proposal to the final adoption of the legal act by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. Should you require any EU-related information, then MEUSAC is your best bet. You can reach us on Facebook or In- stagram. Alternatively, you can call us on 2200 3300 or send us an e-mail on info.meusac@gov.mt. Our website www.meusac.gov.mt serves as a plat- form for the latest updates on EU-re- lated matters. e author forms part of the Com- munications and Events team at ME- USAC. The author forms part of the Communications and Events team at MEUSAC MEUSAC now in its 12th year of operations 2020 ushered in a new look for Bank of Vallet- ta staff as the BOV uniform underwent a rad- ical transformation. For the first time in twenty years, the Bank departed from its traditional grey and maroon colours, opting for a palette of blues, white and maroon. Last month Bank of Valletta revealed its new look uniform, a look that reflects a contemporary insti- tution underlined by a proud Maltese heritage. "21 new garments were designed giving staff a greater variety of styles to choose from. e uni- form is sharper, provides a more professional look and allows an element of individuality and per- sonal style, which in turn, create a very interesting effect", said Rita Demarco from BOV Customer Service Centre, also a Couturiere & Consultant in this field. Elaine Fenech from BOV Human Resources stat- ed: "Uniforms tend to get stale and boring. We wanted something that is versatile and provides employees with different choices and looks. So if I feel like wearing a blue shirt, I can, if I want to wear my scarf in a different way, I can. Apart from hav- ing a professional look, we made sure to address style, quality and comfort". "e new uniform was chosen by a group of em- ployees, who worked closely with the supplier," de- clared Jes Sciberras from BOV PR & Marketing. "Trials were carried out prior to production stage, and the Bank listened to staff feedback. is re- sulted in a smart uniform that fits all shapes and sizes." New look for BOV staff

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