The roadshow L-Ewropa max-Xatt, organised by Meusac, is providing information about EU affairs through interaction with members of the public. So far the roadshow visited three seashore locations around Malta and Gozo – it started off with Marsalforn in Gozo on 7 September, and then set its wheels to Marsascala and Buġibba. Tonight and tomorrow evening the roadshow is heading for its last journey to the Sliema front.
The general public is invited to attend and to participate in the number of activities that are being organised by L-Ewropa max-Xatt roadshow. These events are intended to encourage citizens to find out more about their rights and what they can do should they feel that their rights are not being respected. This roadshow is focusing on consumer rights, travellers’ rights, environmental issues and policies, and the voluntary sector. This is being done by means of information stands and animated activities including a puppet show for children.
Consumer rights range from price transparency, to product safety, to effective redress in case of defective products. These rights can be exercised both for local as well as cross-border purchases. In case of online or distance shopping such as teleshopping, consumers are also protected by means of the ‘cooling off’ period during which they are entitled to a full refund if they change their mind and return the product bought. Through the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007 – 2013, the Commission aims to be able to demonstrate to all EU citizens, by 2013, that they can shop from anywhere in the EU, from the corner shop to a website, confident they are equally effectively protected; and to be able to demonstrate to all retailers that they can sell anywhere on the basis of a single, simple set of rules.
EU passengers travelling by plane or train are protected by a whole range of consumer rights. These include rights in case of denied boarding, delays in departure, cancellation of flights, lost luggage and reduced mobility. By way of example, airline passengers are entitled to one night’s accommodation if their flight is postponed until the next day and to compensation in case of lost of damaged luggage. These rights will be extended to bus and boat passengers as from 2012. Despite these rights, the latest Eurobarometer survey on air passengers’ rights, carried out between May and June 2009, shows that Europeans are inadequately informed about their rights and obligations when travelling with an EU-registered carrier. In fact only 22% of the respondents were aware of their contractual rights.
The promotion of sustainable development and of a high level of environmental protection has been included as an important objective at EU level. The EU environment policy covers almost the whole spectrum of environmental issues, including issues such as climate change, environment and health and the management of natural resources and waste. The EU is also at the forefront of international efforts to deal with global environmental concerns convinced that major challenges such as climate change should be tackled multilaterally.
2011 is the European Year of Volunteering. This European Year has generated huge interest in volunteering around Europe. The EU is using this year to work towards creating an enabling and facilitating environment for volunteering in the EU by empowering volunteer organisations and improving the quality of volunteering; rewarding and recognising volunteering activities; and raising awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.
Besides focusing on volunteering as one of the main items of this roadshow, Meusac is also supporting the European Year of Volunteering and the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector through the production of the second episode of the Tommy and Rosy cartoon entitled Giving a Helping Hand! The 20-minute cartoon aims to encourage children understand the value of volunteering, and how by becoming volunteers, even at a young age, one can make a difference. It also highlights the commitment of millions of people around Europe who work on a voluntary basis in various sectors of society such as schools, hospitals, sports clubs by taking part in various activities including protecting the environment, providing social services, and helping people in other countries.
L-Ewropa max-Xatt and the production of the second episode of the Tommy and Rosy cartoon are financed by the European Commission – DG Communication – and are two of the actions of the Joint Communication Plan for 2011 between the government of Malta, the European Commission and the European Parliament which is intended to bring the EU closer to the citizens.
Brenda Azzopardi is Executive (EU Policy and Legislation), Meusac