Following the overwhelming response to the first training session, which was fully booked after 4 days, by popular demand, Maria Rauch has been invited to repeat the training session for the benefit of the large number of interested parties whose requests for participation regrettably had to be turned to due seating restrictions.

Maria Rauch is an independent international consultant with extensive experience in EU funding, with particular focus on the fields of Local Development, Employment and Vocational Training. She has advised several organisations including the European Commission (DG Employment and Social Affairs, DG Education and Culture and DG Information Society) and the Portuguese Labour Ministry. She has delivered training on EU funding in several countries including Portugal, Spain, Germany and Slovakia. Prior to consultancy, she spent 8 years in the Portuguese Labour Ministry, where she was projects coordinator in DGEFP (General Directorate on Employment and Vocational Training). She was also President of the Vocational Training Centre for Electronics (CINEL). Maria also spent 5 years as training director in a private Portuguese company and has also published extensively.

The second training session was organized jointly by Forum Malta fl-Ewropa and the European Parliament Information Office in Valletta. It was held on 5^th March at the Westin Dragonara Resort, St Julians and was again very well attended.