Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515299
11 EUROPE 1.2.2024 FIAU hosts over 400 Egmont Group representatives from around the globe THE 24th annual Working and Regional Group Meetings is taking place until tomorrow. Over 400 Egmont Group (EG) representatives, international partners, and observers are par- ticipating in the meetings in St. Julian's, Malta, graciously host- ed by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) of Malta. As a global organisation, the EG both facilitates and prompts the exchange of information, knowledge, and cooperation amongst member FIUs and pro- vides them with a secure plat- form to exchange expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering (ML), associ- ated predicate offences, and ter- rorist financing (TF). "e Working and Regional Groups contribute significant- ly to the success of the Egmont Group's overall goal of strength- ening information-sharing mechanisms among its mem- bers to combat money launder- ing, associated predicate offenc- es, and terrorist financing," says Mrs. Elżbieta Franków-Jaśkiew- icz, Interim Chair of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. "is week's meetings serve as an important tool to fa- cilitate communication, collab- oration, decision-making, and overall team effectiveness." e Egmont Group's central goals are to enhance member ca- pabilities and improve informa- tion and expertise sharing among them. e Egmont Group's four unique Working Groups, the Information Exchange Work- ing Group, Membership, Sup- port, and Compliance Working Group, Policy and Procedures Working Group, and Technical Assistance and Training Work- ing Group, help achieve these goals, each with its own man- date to support member FIUs. In addition, the Regional Groups assist the Egmont Group with ac- complishing its goals of develop- ment, cooperation, and sharing of expertise on a regional level. Delegates are navigating a busy week and working through a full agenda, collaborating on key projects and initiatives, includ- ing: • Progressing the imple- mentation of 2022-2027 EG's Strategy, • Strengthening the organi- sation through the review and endorsement of FIU candidate memberships and the selection of several leadership positions, • Identifying the training and technical assistance needs of member FIUs and designing initiatives to address them, • Looking into relevant AML/CFT risk themes, including the role of FIUs in the Asset recovery pro- cess, as well as the FIUs' role in preventing UN- SCR's TF/PF Sanctions Evasion, and in preventing the Abuse of NPOs for TF Purposes, • Reviewing operational policy and strategic issues, • Leveraging new technol- ogy further to advance information exchange for FIUs, including cloud- based services and the use of advanced IT analytical tools. Additionally, the Heads of FIU (HoFIU) will meet on ursday, 1 February 2024, to discuss fu- ture technology developments for EG and FIUs in terms of in- formation sharing. "FIAU Malta is delighted to host the Working and Regional Group Meetings in St. Julian's, Malta, for a week-long oppor- tunity to create meaningful connections and as a platform for shared insights," expressed Alfred Zammit, Director of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU). "Malta, with its rich culture, deep history, and warm hospitality, serves as the perfect backdrop for our gather- ing. We look forward to a week of engaging, collaborative efforts amongst colleagues." e Egmont Group of Finan- cial Intelligence Units is always grateful to countries who host the ever-important Egmont Group Meetings and Plenaries. e Egmont Group thanks the FIAU Malta for hosting the 24th Working and Regional Group Meetings and thanks the French Financial Intelligence Unit (TRACFIN), who will be hosting the Egmont Group's Annual Ple- nary in the Spring of 2024. Egmont Group facilitates and prompts the exchange of information, knowledge, and cooperation amongst member FIUs OVER the past couple of years, activity at Saint James Hospital in Sliema wit- nessed an increase, leading to a short- age of beds becoming a more regular occurrence. us, a major project was undertaken at a cost of €1 million to re- furbish the second floor of Saint James (Capua) Hospital in Sliema, which was not being utilised for the last 10 years and will now house a first class 18 pri- vate room Dayward. is floor will now cater for all day case admissions and surgeries (those surgeries and admissions that do not require an overnight stay). is will allow the 3rd and 4th floor wards to focus on the more challengning and complex type of care. is will increase the Hospital capacity by an additional 18 rooms. e new Dayward is equipped with the latest technology focusing on the patients' comfort and accessibility, and has indeed been refurbished to a 5-star standard with various multifunc- tion abilities and thoughtful colour schemes to create a soothing, warm and calming environment. is level of finish will now become the new stand- ard that will be adopted across all the Saint James Hospital Group. All pictures in the patients rooms have been custom designed by artist Stephanie Borg and which design, hues and finishes are intended to represent a patient's journey. In Ms Borg's own words, "e recovery process is what inspired me to adopt a gradated colour effect – just like the colours, we strive to go from strength to strength in our rehabilitation journey." e inauguration was addressed by the Saint James Hospital Group CEO Jean Claude Muscat who underlined that this investment reaffirms Saint James Hospital Group's continuous commitment to the pursuit of excel- lence in patient care based on the Group's Core Values of a passion for excellence, mutual respect, personal responsibility and teamwork. He added that Saint James Hospital Group continues to earn a reputation for excellence and innovation, backed by the latest state-of-the-art technolo- gy and staffed by highly-qualified pro- fessional personnel. Muscat concluded saying "we want Saint James Hospital to be the natural choice for an individual when seeking private medical treatment. We remain fully committed to continue to invest in the very best in modern technolo- gy supported by the island's most re- nowned medical professionals and maintaining a dynamic and motivated workforce which has become the flag- ship of our group." Saint James Hospital in Sliema inaugurates new day case ward