Speaking at the opening of an EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) Seminar organised by the European Commission and the Malta Standards Authority, Mr Galea said that it is of a mutual understanding that service providers deliver a highly satisfactory service to their customers, and at the end line, that the customer receives a high level of service from its provider.

“If we are aiming to enhance our nation’s overall delivery, standards are one of the main pillars upon which one has to base his relevant operations,” Mr Galea said.

Various local councils and authorities attending the seminar, aimed at enhancing their environmental behaviours and awareness, took part in discussions relevant to the EMAS operations, and pledged their commitment to the implementation of the scheme within their respective areas.

Minister Galea said that, “the term competitiveness is an area which should not be referred to just for the sake of doing so,

but one has to delve deep into its real

significance and in deriving its main components, discuss with all those concerned the ideal objectives to focus upon. Therefore, as optimal delivery by service providers is acquired through, among others, the certification of standards, competitiveness lies in a constant symbiosis with the implementation of this concept.”

The Minister proceeded to underline that the importance of standards within internal operations has increased in its significance throughout the years. That is why, in fact, many public and private institutions today:

• House within their structure centres of customer care;

• Have achieved performance certification in the areas of their individual competence; and

• Restructured their operations to make sure that they meet today’s required standards.

Within an ever-changing world, these elements are vital to their overall performance and their customers’ satisfaction.

Minister Censu Galea also made reference to the importance of a sustainable development. As such:

• Governments around Europe view the concept as one of their priorities;

• It has been integrated into the European Union objectives and calls for the use of a wider range of tools for environmental policy;

• The sixth Community Environmental Action Programme, Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice, aims at completing and reinforcing our body of environmental legislation while doing more in terms of mobilising stakeholders for the environment and ‘greening’ the market;

• Activities, products and services carrying, among others, the correct environmental obligations are of an added benefit to a sustainable development.

Within this concept, an environmental policy can be achieved through:

• The promotion of information;

• An awareness and commitment with citizens and the business community;

• The right incentives for environmental improvements in the market place and

• Ensuring the integration of the environment into other policies.

The Competitiveness and Communications Minister stressed that, “The environmental awareness present around us in Malta is a result of what we have been advocating throughout these years – that is a sustainable and cleaner environment. A few years ago, the environment was a mere non-issue among our citizens; a few years later it became a priority. This government’s main goals are bi-fold concentrating, besides several other factors, mainly on ‘competitiveness’ and the ‘environment’, and your presence here today is a clear manifestation of your pledge in collaborating with the attainment of our aims.”

Minister Censu Galea concluded his address stating that, “An environmental audit and certification is of paramount importance to the credibility and performance of service providers. Tourism is a case in point. With one third of our economy depending entirely upon the provision of tourism services, Malta has to keep abreast of European and worldwide standards thus ensuring that it is on a level playing field when competing with others in the attraction of potential tourists. The creation of awareness to the acquisition of standards, coupled with the assurance of an optimal delivery of service can ultimately lead to our aim of an overall competitiveness. These are today’s requirements – no one can afford to be left behind.”

Domestic authorities participating in the seminar included the Water Services Corporation, the Malta Environmental and Planning Agency (MEPA), Waste Serv, the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Enterprise and the Department of Local Government.

Mayors and representatives of local councils present included Naxxar, Qrendi, Victoria, Gozo, Pieta’, Marsa, Lija, Tarxien, Mellieha, Marsascala, Msida, Gharghur, St Julian’s, Fgura, Kirkop, Santa Venera, Xaghra and Senglea.