Sharing my thoughts with a Commissioner!

Our pupils were very excited because they discussed with Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, Mr. John Dalli, who kindly accepted our invitation to participate through Skype in our activities for celebrating Europe Day! We are really appreciating his participation and this led us to celebrate Europe Day even better than we expected!

Pupils asked Commissioner Dalli about fair-trade, hunger in Europe, smoking and drugs. They are very concerned about these topics and they shared their thoughs with him. The discussion with Commissioner Dalli took place from 9:00 till 10:00.

Biography

John Dalli served as a Cabinet Minister in the Maltese Government since 1987 having been first elected to the House of Representatives of Malta on behalf of the Nationalist Party in 1987. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary for Industry (1987-1990), Minister of Economic Affairs (1990-92), Minister of Finance (1992-1996, 1998-2003) Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion (2004). Between March 2008 and February 2010, John Dalli served as Minister for Social Policy which includes the Health, housing, employment and industrial relations portfolio.

As a qualified accountant, Dalli has also worked in the private sector in Malta and abroad, both in industry and as an independent consultant.

In February 2010 John Dalli was appointed as European Commissioner responsible for Health and Consumer Policy.

John Dalli was born on 5th October 1948. He is married and has two daughters.

Background

Personal details

- Maltese

- Born October 5, 1948 in Qormi, Malta

- Married

- 2 children

Current duties

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy

Political career

- Since May 1987-2010 : Member of Parliament

- 1987-1990: Parliamentary Secretary for Industry

- 1990-1992:Minister for Economy

- 1992-1996: Minister of Finance

- 1996-1997: Shadow Minister of Finance and Chairman of Public Accounts Committee

- 1998-2003: Minister of Finance

- Mar 2003-Apr 2004: Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs

- Apr 2004-Jul 2004: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion

- Mar 2008 - Feb 2010: Minister for Social Policy

Professional career

- 2004-2008: Management Consultant

- 1996-1997 Management Consultant

- 1981-1986: Management Consultant

- 1977-1979: Manager of IT Development Project with Blue Bell Europe (Brussels HO)

- 1972-1977: Financial Controller Blue Bell (Malta) Ltd.

Education

- 1971: Association of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants

Languages

- Maltese and English: mother tongue

- Italian: thorough knowledge

- French: basic knowledge

Some of pupils’ questions to Commissioner Dalli were the following:

Who were Robert Schuman and Jean Monett?

Who created the European flag?

Zuzana Slašťanová, 13 years old, Grade 7.A

Which of the 27 EU Member-States are using mills energy?

How is it possible to take decisions with so many members in the European Parliament?

Andrea Valušková, 13 years old, Grade 7.A

What do you think about Fair Trade?

Veronika Slašťanová, 14 years old, Grade 8.A

What is the most important subject about health for European citizens at the moment?

How does the European Union respond to the drug use?

Have you ever visited Slovakia?

Eleónora Uhrovičová, 13 years old, Grade 7.A

My kite – My right!

Each pupil designed his/ her own kite and decorated it with one right that he/ she believes that is the most important for the European citizens (it is related with the topic and the poster of Europe Day 2011). The pupils made and designed their kites in different places in the city (School’s playground, School’s entrance, Main Square, Cultural centre, Hospital, Bus Station, Green park, Planetarium etc.). In each group of pupils there were two pupils that they took photos and wrote a feedback of theirs’ group action.

At the beginning of this activity, each teacher had a yellow whistle with the flag of the European Union. At the activity "The biggest European flag in my School's playground!" the teachers gave their whistles to those pupils who were the most active on this day.

You, Europe and your rights

Groups of pupils (each group will have 2-3 pupils) informed citizens of all ages about the rights that they have got in the European Union. They distributed EUBookshop’s publications and leaflets (Europe and you - A snapshot of EU achievements, Move in Europe - Enhancing young people's education, mobility and access to the job market, Do you know what social Europe can do for you?, Freedom to move and live in Europe - A guide to your rights as an EU citizen, Your social Europe - An overview of useful information sources, "What's in it for me?" - EU opportunities in education, culture and youth, Your guide to the Lisbon Treaty) about what Europe has done for them and about their rights as European citizens. The pupils acted like mini reporters and tried to ask questions to the citizens in order to take the pulse of the local society about European topics (they had prepared a special questionnaire for this action). 

Europe and you

A snapshot of EU achievements

Have you ever wondered exactly what it is that the European Union does for you? If so, this booklet provides the answer with a brief glimpse at a few of the tangible steps the EU has taken in 2010 to make life better and easier. Sometimes it is in finding simple everyday solutions, such as persuading mobile phone makers to switch to a standard form of charger. Sometimes it is European laws that give citizens new rights. Sometimes it is battling against continental and global forces to maintain the EU’s economic equilibrium and generate jobs. And sometimes it is in helping to restore hope to people suffering natural or man-made disasters, in Europe and beyond. But in every case, the EU is acting to create a Europe in line with the responsibility taken on by its founders to work in the interests of ‘the peoples of Europe’. Everything we do is for the citizens of Europe. The EU will continue to place people’s concerns on the political agenda. 

"What's in it for me?"

EU opportunities in education, culture and youth

The European Union supports a wide range of activities in education, training, culture, research and youth. This booklet provides brief information on some of the programmes that the Directorate-General for Education and Culture runs. To make it easier to consult, it does not always use the formal EU terminology, and does not include all EU programmes, instruments and actions. But in each section it does say where to go for more information. And it lists the national agencies and other important organisations that are the gateways to taking part in the activities.There may be something in it for you. 

Your guideto the Lisbon Treaty

After decades of war that cost millions of lives, the foundation of the EU marked the beginning of a new era where European countries solve their problems by talking, not fi ghting. Today, members of the EU enjoy a wealth of benefi ts. The existing rules, however, were designed for a much smaller EU, and an EU that did not have to face global challenges such as climate change, a global recession or international cross-border crime. The EU has the potential, and the commitment, to tackle these problems, but can only do so by improving the way it works. This is the purpose of the Lisbon Treaty. It makes the EU more democratic, effi cient and transparent. It gives citizens and parliaments a bigger input into what goes on at a European level, and gives Europe a clearer, stronger voice in the world, all the while protecting national interests. This leafl et explains what the Lisbon Treaty means to you as a citizen.

Freedom tomove and live in Europe

A guide to your rights as an EU citizen

Europe in my School

Our School organized the first Photo Competition with EU topic from Monday, 2^nd of May till Friday, 6^th of May in which pupils from all Grades participated in. Competition’s title was “Europe in my School” and pupils tried to take photos about how to prepare the celebration for the Europe Day.

On Monday, 9^th of May, 5 pupils from each Grade saw a presentation with all of these photos and the best photo awarded with gifts of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia by Headmaster of our School, Mgr. Marek Balaz.

Also, on Europe Day a special Photo Competition launched in which only photos from 9^th of May had the right to participate. From Tuesday, 10th of May till Thursday, 12th of May pupils will visit the exhibition of all best photos which will be take place on the first floor of our School.

European Culture in my School

Pupils expressed themselves about how do they feel as European citizens through art! They wereinspired by several cultural elements from all EU Member-States and they decorated some parts of our School (fence, walls, pavements etc.) with ornaments and colours all around Europe. Also, some of the pupils draw on their old t-shirts, trainers and satchels.