On 30th January 2009, The European Employment Services (EURES) in Malta, operating within ETC, organised its annual information business breakfast at the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana. The aim of this seminar was to promote EURES and the principle of worker mobility in Europe, and to strengthen the collaboration of this office with other local institutions directly involved in mobility issues.

After welcoming those present at the event, Dr Sandra Sladden, ETC Chairperson gave the floor to Wallis Goelen (Head of Unit - Employment Services & Mobility) from the European Commission. During her presentation, Ms Goelen explained the objectives set out by EURES namely: to understand the European citizens' mobility; to evaluate their needs and identify their rights; to define the steps and conditions to access employment; to help and learn about their destination country; and to organize better their employment search.

She elaborated on the raison d'etre of EURES, which is represented in each EU Member State, and which primarily targets the pooling together of resources, to help with recruitment and to make European citizens' mobility a success. As for the EURES portal, it seeks to encompass all the information one needs to know, advertising all the vacancies available in the Public Employment Services in each EU language, whilst also providing information on each country and the characteristics of the labour market.

Through the EURES network, a number of advisors have been trained to offer free practical services in Public Employment Services and to help in directing contacts to both job seekers and employers alike, all over Europe.  To sum up, EURES services offer employment opportunities, practical services and relevant material both to job seekers and employers all over the thirty-one European countries. Officials from EURES Malta then explained to the audience present the EURES portal (www.eures.europa.eu) in more detail. They also gave the latest statistics on jobseekers registered on the portal and the number of job vacancies per country. Another presentation was delivered on the updated Employment License Procedure for EU citizens, which was introduced on 2nd February 2009. 

Officials from MEUSAC, The European Representation in Malta, NARIC, Europe Direct and IRU explained the role of their respective offices, reflecting on how they could liaise and enhance their service with EURES on job mobility. MEUSAC was represented by Brenda Azzopardi.

Concluding remarks for this event were delivered by Dr Sue Vella, CEO of ETC.