Announcements

XUEREB. On July 30, FRANCES née Micallef, aged 81, widow of Joseph, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her sons Lino and his wife Joan, and Noel, her grandchildren Ramona and her husband Kevin and Gerald, her great-grandchildren Nicholas and Timothy, her sister Mary, her brother Costantino, nephews and niece, in-laws, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves St Vincent de Paul Residence tomorrow at 8.30 a.m. for St Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 9 a.m., followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi, will be appreciated. Lord grant her eternal rest.

In Memoriam

BONELLO. Treasured memories of a dear husband and father, ROMANO, today the 34th anniversary of his demise. Fondly remembered by his wife Doris, sons and daughters.

CALLEJA - RICHARD. Lovingly remembered on the anniversary of his demise. Daughters Mary, Lilian and families.

DARMANIN - CARMELA. Affectionate memories of a mother who loved us infinitely, today being her 22nd anniversary. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Her sons, daughters, in-laws and grandchildren. A prayer is solicited.

ELLUL - MARIO. Fond memories of a dear friend, today the fourth anniversary of his passing away. Always in our hearts. FOG and friends.

MERCIECA - Sir ARTURO MERCIECA. In loving memory of a wonderful and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather who departed this life 39 years ago. Ever grateful and always in our thoughts and prayers. His family.

MIFSUD. In loving memory of my dear aunt CENSINA, who went home to be with the Lord on July 31, 2007.
A year has passed
Since I last saw you
And it's so hard to believe
That you're really gone
And to know that
I will no longer
See your smiling face
Or hear the sound
Of your voice.
You left so many memories
Which will never part
You will always live
Deep inside our hearts
Forever.
Sadly missed by Susan, Joe, Claudia, Mario, Ryan and by her sister Mary.

PETRONI. In loving memory of JOSEPH on the third anniversary of his demise. Sadly missed by his wife Anne, son Stephen, daughter-in-law Ann and grandchildren Julian and Nicola.

EP Grants 2009

A call for proposals for the 2009 EP Grants, focusing on the European Parliament's role in the decision-making process, was launched yesterday by the European Parliament Office in Malta.

The EU is making available €5 million to applicants in the 27 member states.

Projects may take the form of TV programmes, public events, websites and other internet-based initiatives and projects targeting children.

The EP Grants for 2009, which are being issued by the European Parliament's Directorate General for Communication on a co-financing basis, are meant to enhance an understanding of the role of the European Parliament and how it functions, encourage a wider public participation in the decision-making process and provide a platform for citizens to raise issues which are important to them.

The funding is aimed at projects - which have to take place between January 1 at the earliest and April 30, at the latest - proposing innovative and interesting methods of communication.

The call for proposals, application forms, guidance notes and description of themes can be obtained from www.europarl.europa.eu/valletta, by calling personally or writing to the European Parliament Office, 280, Republic Street, Valletta (Att. Julian Vassallo, Head of Office).

The closing date for applications is October 1 at noon.

Pauline oratorio

The St Paul Socio-Cultural Institute of St Paul's Bay will be presenting the oratorio Pawlu Ta' Malta at Our Lady of Sorrows parish church in St Paul's Bay tomorrow at 7.15 p.m.

Composed by Charles Camilleri and written by Oliver Friggieri, this first oratorio in Maltese was first performed in 1985. Since then, it has been staged 20 times in various churches and was broadcast on Vatican Radio. The oratorio reconstructs the Biblical event of St Paul's shipwreck in Malta.

The oratorio will feature the Collegium Musicum choir and orchestra under the direction of Dion Buhagiar and Mario Bisazza respectively. The performance is one of the activities marking the Year Of St Paul.

Euro banknotes

The Central Bank of Malta is inviting comments from the public on the proposed legal framework to regulate the redistribution, sorting and reissue (recycling) of euro bank- notes.

The new framework will primarily affect banks, financial institutions and other organisations that recycle euro banknotes on a professional basis in Malta and will oblige them to adopt eurosystem-wide standards in performing authenticity and quality tests on banknotes that are to be redistributed to the public.

The bank intends to bring into force measures that will implement the Eurosystem Banknote Recycling Framework, the common eurosystem regime for the detection and withdrawal from circulation of counterfeit, soiled or damaged banknotes. The implementation of the framework will change the policies, procedures, methods of operation and due diligence standards applicable in Malta to banknote authentication and fitness sorting.

These changes seek to standardise measures, procedures and equipment across the euro area, particularly to ensure that there are no competitive distortions within the market.

The framework is binding on all central banks within the eurosystem and is to be implemented in Malta within one year of euro adoption, by January 1, though the framework allows for a subsequent 12-month transitional period permitting organisations to make changes to their policies, procedures and equipment necessary for compliance.

In the light of these developments, the Bank is offering interested parties, and the public, the opportunity to make known their views, comments and suggestions on the future development of its banknote recycling policy and its proposed implementation of the Eurosystem Banknote Recycling Framework.

The consultative document is available at www.centralbankmalta.org.

Replies are to be submitted by September 30.

Victoria song festival

Nilay Tezsay from Turkey won the Golden Cross International Singing Festival held between July 21-23 at the Citadel Centre for Culture and the Arts, Victoria. Ms Tezsay won with her song Alone composed by Fani Hodara and written by Figen Cakmak.

MLP representative

Labour MP Roderick Galdes, the party's spokesman for planning, has been appointed MLP representative on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) board.

Local councils

Today's meeting
2.30 p.m. Fontana

Malta Resources Authority board

Carmel Ellul, an engineer, has been appointed chairman of the Malta Resources Authority, and Joe Cilia was reconfirmed as deputy chairman.

The new board includes Christopher Attard, Helga Pizzuto, Antonella Attard Montaldo, Godwin Bencini and Pauline Galea.

Birkirkara sub-post office

The sub-post office at Exotika, Regent Place, Shop 2A, in Tumas Fenech Street, Birkirkara, will be closed for business between August 4 and 14, both days included.

During this period the public can avail itself of postal services provided by the Maltapost branch at Valley Road, Birkirkara.