Emblema Gdida Ghall-Partit Laburista

33 Youth Organizations United ... We Want Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action BACK!!!

Thirty-three organisations have so far declared their support to an online petition calling on Parliamentarians and MEPS to seek to work together in working towards the reinstatement of the EU Educational Programmes, which were suspended earlier this month.

The organisations supporting the petition are engaged in various not-for-profit activities and represent the opinions and beliefs of Maltese young people. The following organisations have declared their support to date:

AEGEE-Valletta,
ASA (Arts Student Association),
BetaPsi – Psychology Students Association
Birzebbuga Local Council,
CommA - Communications students' organization,
DESA - Department of English Students’ Association,
ELSA-Malta,
Fondazzjoni IDEAT,
FZL - Forum Zaghzagh Laburisti,
Ghaxaq Local Council,
GHSK - Ghaqda Studenti tal-Kriminologija,
GHSL - L-Ghaqda Studenti tal-Ligi,
Greenhouse – Malta,
GWU Youths,
ICTSA – ICT Students Association
Insite - The Student Media Organisation,
Kite Factory,
Koperattiva Kummerc Gust,
KSJC – Kunsill Studenti Junior College,
Local Councils’ Association,
MMSA - Malta Medical Students' Association,
MOVE Progressive Students,
MUYA - Malta UNESCO Youth Association,
PULSE,
Qrendi Local Council,
Scout Association of Malta,
SDM – Studenti Demokristjani Maltin,
Sezzjoni Kunsilliera PL,
Tarxien Local Council,
The Insiter,
UMGS - University of Malta Geographical Society,
ZAK Malta,
Zminijietna – Lehen ix-Xellug.

This petition underlines the spirit of unity and solidarity currently present among organsiations. Other initiatives taken by eitheir individuals or organisations are also to be endorsed. Particularly worth mentioning is the initiative taken by KSU and KNZ where they are seeking to lobby the Commission for swift action to address the issue.
A copy of the petition will be presented to each member of Parliament before Wednesday's evening sitting.

The full text of the petition is as follows:
The undersigned appeal to the House of Parliament and to the Maltese Delegations in the European Parliament to guarantee the reinstatement of the Youth in Action & Life Long Learning Programmes as soon as possible for the benefit of all students, youths and organisations.

Funds entrusted by the Commission to EUPA were meant to be managed in a sound manner for the benefit of the ultimate beneficiaries - young people, youth NGOs, and students. This whole issue revolves around the sound administration of public funds, and no student, youth or organisation should be made to suffer. EUPA is also the people’s fiduciary, and should be made aware that due to mismanagement, hundreds of individuals now risk losing the opportunity of a lifetime.

We understand that intended beneficiaries of the funds may now have to face extra costs and burdens as a consequence of the Commission's actions. These have to be compensated in full.

This year, €4 million were entrusted by the Commission for the benefit of students, youth organisations and other NGOs alike. Money should not be lost due to EUPA failing to satisfy accountability standards.

We are pleased that an inquiry was launched into the issue and demand a thorough and speedy investigation to ensure that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions. Furthermore, we want to make sure that no approved projects are derailed, no available funds are lost and that the suspension on both programmes is removed as soon as possible.

We note with satisfaction that EUPA is committing itself to providing university students with clear answers as early as next week. However, we stress the importance that EUPA does not adopt a piecemeal approach in finding effective solutions to the issue. One solution could be that, until undergoing investigations are carried out, the Commission itself sets up a temporary procedure for students, youth organisations and NGOs to submit their applications.

We encourage all members of the House of Parliament and the Maltese delegations in the European Parliament to follow the spirit of unity among student organisations, youth organisations and NGOs, to address this problem effectively in the same spirit.

Inadequate Government Housing Policy

The Government apartments that are currently on the market are the same apartments that were on sale two years ago. These apartments did not sell, because in spite of the fact that they are housing apartments and are being sold by the government, the exorbitant prices asked for them meant that they remained unsold.

There is, in fact a 2600 person waiting list for housing assistance, but due to the fact that the majority of these families and persons cannot afford the prices being asked for these government apartments, the apartments remain unsold.

www.maltastar.com

BEWARE... Maltarightnow.com is infected with the new virus named lies.exe

It-Tarzna Safe taht in-Nazzjonalisti ... GIDBA OHRA

A total of 444 students have been disappointed because of the derailment of European-Educational Funds due to the misadministration of funds by the EUPA office.

The Erasmus office informed this e-newspaper that 453 applications were submitted by University students to participate in Erasmus mobility programme during the academic year 2010-2011 and 444 were selected.

The Erasmus office also confirmed that this year, the number of participants was much greater than last year’s, as only 173 students applied during the academic year 2009-2010.

In total, Malta could benefit from an estimated seven million euro between 2007 and 2013.

The European Commission suspended the funds for the funds the Life-Long learning and Youth in Action programmes because of lack of financial assurance from Malta.

www.maltastar.com

Tini slice... le dawk ghal ta' gewwa biss!

L-Accounts Executive tal-kumpa nija tar-reklamar li kienet inkarigata bl-account tal-Aġenzija tal-Programmi tal-UE (EUPA), kienet sa ftit taż-żmien ilu Audrey Abela, it-tfajla tal-Programme Manager tal-aġen zija, Alessandro Cristina, li huwa t-tifel tal-Ministru tal-Edukazzjoni, Do lores Cristina.


Fl-ewwel disa’ xhur tal-2008, l-aġenzija tar-reklamar li taħdem magħha t-tfajla ta’ iben il-Min is tru Cristina, tħallset €35,454.99 f’xogħol ta’ reklamar li jinkludi ħlas ijiet ta’ reklami f’ġurnali. Bħalma seħħ fl-2008, fis-sena preċedenti din il-kumpanija tħallset l-ogħla ammont f’reklamar meta mqabbla ma’ ħlasijiet li saru lill-kumpaniji oħ rajn ta’ reklamar jew mezzi ta’ komunikazzjoni mill-EUPA.

B’rabta mad-deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea li tissos pendi lill-EUPA minn programmi edukattivi li kienu qed jibbenefikaw minn hom bosta għaqdiet taż-żgħażagħ u studenti, l-oriz zont kien miżgħud b’informaz z joni minn ġewwa dwar nies li għandhom taħt idejhom l-operat tal-EUPA, jiġifieri Alessandro Cristina, iben il-Ministru Dolores Cristina u Mauro Pace Parascandalo, il-Kordinatur Nazzjonali tal-EUPA.

“L-iktar ħaġa tad-“daħk” hi li mill-executives kollha li għandha l-kumpanija tar-reklamar inkwistjoni, it-tfajla ta’ Alessandro Cristina kienet appuntu dik li tieħu ħsieb l-account tagħhom (tal-EUPA),” qalu l-imkejjen tagħna waqt li sostnew li dan għal uħud fil-EUPA kien inaċċettabbli min ħabba li s-sieħeb tagħha (Alessandro Cristina), kellu f’idejh informazzjoni kruċjali dwar il-kampanji ta’ reklamar li l-EUPA tkun qed tippjana minn żmien għal żmien.

Sett ta’ domandi mibgħutin minn l-orizzont lil Pace Parascandalo dwar il-mod ta’ kif intefqu l-fondi mill-Aġenzija f’reklamar, kienu evitati milli jitwieġbu mill-Ministeru ta’ Dolores Cristina (li ħa f’idejh il-mistoqsijiet) billi ntqal li “bħalissa l-EUPA m’għan dhiex kuntratt ma’ aġenzija ta’ reklmar.”

Fid-domandi tiegħu l-orizzont staqsa meta tqabbdet l-aġenzija tar-reklamar li taħdem magħha s-sieħba ta’ iben il-ministru, saritx sejħa għall-offerti u min kienu l-kumpaniji li wrew interess fl-offerta.

Staqsejna wkoll x’kien ix-xogħol mogħti lil din il-kumpanija, kemm tħallset tiegħu minn mindu kienet innominata u jikkonfermax li l-Accounts Executive ta’ din il-kumpanija ta’ reklamar res ponsabbli mill-account tal-EUPA, hix is-sieħba ta’ Alessandro Cristina, wieħed mill-maniġers fil-EUPA.

It-tweġiba xotta li waslet mill-Ministeru ta’ Cristina u mhux minn Pace Parascandalo kienet; “Nirriferik għall-ewwel tweġiba”, jiġifieri li bħalissa l-EUPA m’għandhiex kuntratt ma’ aġenzija ta’ reklamar.

B’rabta mad-deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea li tissos pendi żewġ programmi ewlenin li tamministra l-EUPA, jiġifieri l-Lifelong Learning (fir-responsabbilità ta’ Alessandro Cristina) u l-Youth in Action (fir-responsabbilità ta’ Silvano Cristauro), l-imkejjen tagħna kkonfermaw li uffiċjal tal-OLAF, l-Aġenzija Ewropea li tagħmel investigazzjonijiet finanzjarji dwar il-mod ta’ kif ikunu qegħdin jintefqu l-fondi tal-UE, wettqu awditjar tal-EUPA tant li f’Awwissu li għadda ġibdu l-attenzjoni tal-Gvern għall-irregolaritajiet li sabu, iżda li f’dawn ix-xhur kollha ma sar xejn biex ikunu indirizzati.

Fid-deċiżjoni tagħha, il-KE ikkritikat bl-aħrax lill-Aġenzija EUPA għall-mod persistenti li bih naqset li tassiguraha dwar in-nuqqasijiet riferuti lilha u għad-dgħufija tagħha fl-amministrazzjoni marbuta mas-sistema tal-verifiki tal-kontijiet.

“Biex inħarsu l-interessi finanzjarji tal-UE, il-Kummissjoni ddeċidiet li tissospendi l-implimentazzjoni tal-programmi Lifelong Learning u l-Youth in Action f’Malta minħabba n-nuqqas ta’ assigurazzjoni fl-immaniġġjar tal-fondi fil-pajjiż,” qalet il-KE.

Konsegwenza tal-irregolarijiet li nstabu fl-Aġenzija, Malta tista’ titlef mal-€4 miljun b’detriment għal bosta għaqdiet taż-żgħażagħ u individwi li applikaw biex jieħdu sehem fiż-żewġ programmi.

Mistoqsi minn l-orizzont jekk il-Ministeru ta’ Dolores Cristina talabx għar-riżenja tiegħu minn Kordninatur Nazzjonali tal-EUPA u ta’ Alessandro Cristina b’rabta man-nuqqasijiet li sabet il-KE fit-tmexxija tal-aġenzija, il-Ministeru qal li “wara li jsiru l-verifiki meħtieġa, kulħadd irid jerfa’ r-responsabbiltà tiegħu.”

Mistoqsi x’inhuma l-kummenti tiegħu għal dawk l-istudenti universitarji u għaqdiet taż-żgħażagħ li konsegwenza tan-nuqqasijiet tal-EUPA, spiċċaw mhux se jkunu jistgħu jieħdu sehem fil-programmi Ewropew fosthom dawk tal-Erasmus, il-Ministeru qal li l-Aġenzija jiddispjaċiha li xi studenti se jintlaqtu ħażin u hi kommessa li taħdem biex tirrisolvi s-sitwazzjoni fl-iqsar żmien possibbli.

Intant fost dawk milqutin hemm għexieren ta’ studenti li kienu ilhom xhur jippjanaw biex imorru jqattgħu semestru ta’ studju f’universitajiet barranin permezz tal-programm Erasmus. Ittra mibgħuta mill-Universtià ta’ Malta lill-istudenti li kienu aċċettati biex imorru jistudjaw barra permezz tal-programm Erasmus 2010/2011, għarr fithom li l-parteċipazzjoni ta’ Malta f’dan il-programm hija sospiża.

“Għaldaqstant, l-istudenti qed jingħataw il-parir biex ma jkomplux bit-tħejjijiet tagħ hom u b’mod partikolari biex ma jidħlux għal xi obbligazzjoni finanzjarja bħal depożiti għall-akkomodazzjoni, titjir-iet eċċ. sakemm ma tinħareġ notifika oħra,” qalet l-Università ta’ Malta b’referenza għas-sospensjoni ta’ Malta mill-programmi Ewropej.

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