Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee - MEUSAC

L.N. 154 of 2017

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ACT

(CAP. 497)

Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee - MEUSAC

(Establishment as an Agency) Order, 2017

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 36(1) of the

Public Administration Act, the Prime Minister has made the

following order:-

The title of this order is the Malta-EU Steering and Action

Committee - MEUSAC (Establishment as an Agency) Order, 2017.

(1) There shall be an Agency, to be known as the Malta-

EU Steering and Action Committee or MEUSAC, hereinafter referred

to as "the Agency", which shall carry out functions related to

consultation on European Union (EU) policy and legislation, EU-

related information and assistance on EU funding programmes. This

Agency shall continue to perform the functions and responsibilities in

accordance with the decision taken by the government in 2008 to re-

establish MEUSAC.

(2) All employees performing duties with, and any other

public officers currently deployed with MEUSAC shall be regarded

as employees of the Agency under the same terms and conditions

prevailing at the date of coming into force of this order.

(3) The employment contracts of employees referred to in sub-

article (2) shall continue in force as if they were entered into by the

Agency.

(4) Public officers deployed with the Agency shall be deemed

to be detailed with the Agency in accordance with article 43 of the

Public Administration Act.

(5) The Agency shall, as from the coming into force of this

order, assume responsibility for all assets, liabilities and obligations

previously entered into by MEUSAC or by other bodies who act on

its behalf.

(1)

The Agency shall have the following functions

(a)

to stimulate and lead a national debate on European

ideals, values, objectives and long term strategies;

(b)

to discuss the impact proposed EU measures could

have on Malta, its institutions, its specific sectors and ordinary

citizens through a structured consultation process and other

initiatives;

(c)

to establish and maintain dialogue between those

participating in the EU decision-making processes;

(d)

to provide support on EU programmes and funding;

(e)

to disseminate EU-related information, seeking to

ensure in particular that the public is well and adequately

informed on Malta's positions within the EU and its institutions

as well as the rights Maltese citizens have as EU citizens.

(2) The Agency shall assume the following duties

(a)

to steer a structured consultation process on EU

policy and legislation with stakeholders;

(b) to provide EU-related information to stakeholders

and to the public with particular emphasis on Malta’s position

within the EU and its institutions as well as the rights Maltese

citizens have as EU citizens; and

(c)

to provide information and assistance on EU

funding programmes, in particular by advising and assisting

local councils and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to

draw up and submit competitive project applications.

The Agency shall be housed in 280, Republic Street, Office of the

Agency.

Valletta.

(1) The Minister responsible for MEUSAC shall be the Minister

Minister responsible for Social Dialogue or such other Minister as responsible

the Agency.

may be designated for such purpose by the Prime Minister.

(2) The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for

MEUSAC shall supervise the Agency in terms of article 39 of the

Public Administration Act

Provided that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry

responsible for MEUSAC may be assisted in such supervision by

another Permanent Secretary in accordance with the proviso to article

13(5) of the Public Administration Act

Provided further if the Minister, other than the Prime

Minister, assumes responsibility for the Agency, its supervision shall

be assumed by the Permanent Secretary of that Ministry.

The operations of the Agency shall follow an Agency

Performance Agreement which is to be entered into between the

Permanent Secretary and MEUSAC.

The Agency shall be governed by the provisions of the

Financial Administration and Audit Act unless otherwise stated in the

Agency Performance Agreement referred to in the article 6, in which

case the provisions of the Agency Performance Agreement shall

prevail.

In the Fourth Schedule to the Public Administration Act,

immediately after the words "Malta Council for Science and

Technology Agency" there shall be added the following

"MEUSAC

To engage stakeholders in the EU processes

through consultation, the dissemination of

information and assistance on EU funding

programmes".

€0.27