Course organised jointly by European Parliament Liaison Office, Valletta & the Foundation for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Initiatives (FPEI)
This course is designed to give young entrepreneurs a clear understanding of how the European Union shapes the business environment and how they can use this knowledge to strengthen and future-proof their enterprises—particularly within the context of a small EU Member State.
The course begins by unpacking how European law is made, guiding participants through EU legislative procedures, negotiation dynamics, and influence pathways, and showing how businesses and SMEs can have a voice in shaping policies that affect them. Participants will then explore what the EU offers in terms of support and opportunities, including funding instruments, training programmes, and cross-border initiatives that can support business growth and innovation.
A dedicated module will introduce the 28th regime, a proposed EU-wide legal framework aimed at innovative and fast-growing companies, highlighting how it could simplify operations and reduce regulatory barriers across Member States. Participants will also gain practical insight into taxation and licensing, with a focus on compliance, strategic planning, and operating efficiently within EU and national frameworks.
The course further addresses the impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on SMEs, examining both the opportunities for innovation and productivity, and the responsibilities businesses have in protecting workers’ rights, including under the Just Transition Directive. Finally, participants will analyse geopolitical tensions and their impact on business, gaining a better understanding of how global uncertainty, supply chains, and international relations influence markets and entrepreneurial decision-making.
By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to make informed strategic decisions, engage with EU policies, and position their businesses to adapt, compete, and grow in a rapidly evolving European and global environment.
Modules:
- How a European law is born: procedures, strategy, negotiation and influence
- What can the EU offer in terms of support and opportunities?
- The 28th regime: A new legal framework for innovative companies
- Taxation and Licensing for Business
- Digitalisation & AI and its impact on SMEs
- Geopolitical tensions and the impact on business
Dates & Time:
Friday 15 May 2026 | 09:30 – 12:30
Friday 22 May 2026 | 09:30 – 12:30
Friday 29 May 2026 | 09:30 – 12:30
Venue:
European Parliament Liaison Office, St Paul’s Street, Valletta
Registration:
Speakers:
Click on each speaker’s name for their bio.
Ms. Elaine Cordina, European Parliament Liaison Office, Malta
Elaine Cordina is currently the Public Relations Officer at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Malta where she is responsible for stakeholder outreach, event management and volunteer recruitment on the European Parliament’s together.eu platform. Previously she was a full-time lecturer at the Institute for European Studies focusing on Agenda Setting in the EU, EU Inter-institutional Relations, Malta-EU Relations and Theories of EU Integration.
Prior to moving back to Malta, she has worked as an inter-institutional coordinator both at the Secretariat-General of the European Commission and in DG Mare, as well as in the European Parliament in an MEP office. Between 1999 and 2004, she was part of the Malta-EU Information Centre Team that led the information campaign leading up to the referendum on accession in 2003.
Mr Andrea Camilleri, SEM
Andrea Camilleri is the Manager within the Project Support team at Servizzi Ewropej f’Malta (SEM). SEM is a government agency tasked to provide information and assistance on EU-related policies and legislation and on EU funding opportunities. When its comes to the Project Support team within SEM, the focus is to provide information about all EU funding opportunities, provide training on how to apply and implement EU funded projects and assist the public in the application process.
Mr Mark Muscat, SEM
Mark Muscat is currently serving within the Measures & Support Division, the entity tasked with implementing EU funded grant schemes for the private sector. After more than a decade in public service within the EU funding streams, his experience in the sector has helped him develop a strong background in EU funding mechanisms, public procurement and communications. As part of the Project Selection Committee Secretariat which evaluates applications received, his attention to detail and knowledge of the schemes are crucial in ensuring effective evaluation and communication with prospective applicants and interested parties.
Dr Vanessa da Costa Palmer, Camilleri Preziosi Advocates
Vanessa is a Senior Associate at Camilleri Preziosi Advocates, where she has practised since July 2022, specialising in corporate law and M&A for both private and public companies, covering a broad range of matters including transactional work, corporate governance, and company law advisory.
Prior to joining Camilleri Preziosi, Vanessa built an extensive corporate career in South Africa spanning over a decade. Having qualified as an attorney in 2009, she gained private practice experience at Eversheds (South Africa) and subsequently became a partner in the Commercial and M&A department at Norton Rose Fulbright (South Africa). She also served as in-house legal counsel for two multinational companies, both previously listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Vanessa holds an LL.M. in Corporate Law (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). She has further strengthened her academic credentials through the completion of the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme with the Chartered Governance Institute of UK & Ireland, as well as certifications from the London School of Economics.
Dr Vitorine Bajada, Dingli and Dingli Law Firm
Dr. Vitorine Bajada is a Partner at Dingli & Dingli Law Firm, where she specializes in the intersection of Corporate Law, Taxation, and Regulated Business. Since joining the firm in 2006, she has established herself as a leading expert in navigating the nuances of Maltese and EU regulatory landscapes, with a particular focus on Company Law and cross-border fiscal arrangements.
Admitted to the Bar in 2009, Dr. Bajada holds a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Malta and advanced qualifications from the Malta Institute of Taxation and the UK Chartered Institute of Taxation. Beyond her practice, she is a member of the Malta Chamber of Advocates, the Malta Institute of Taxation, and the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners. Dr. Bajada is committed to providing clarity within the shifting regulatory environment, ensuring that international clients remain both compliant and competitive within the European market.
Dr Claire Cassar D4N6
Lawyer-turned-telecom-executive-turned-serial-entrepreneur. For 20+ years, Claire has built across industries most people see as unrelated — she sees the connections.
She started in law, then spent nine years at Vodafone Malta, including a front-row role launching Vodafone Qatar in 2007, before leading a Swedish telecoms startup into South-East Asia.
In 2016, she left corporate for good. Since then: an operating stake in transit advertising firm Moving Ads Malta; co-founder of Cowfish, a Digital Out-Of-Home venture launched in 2019; and MD of GDPR and data security firm D4n6 through 2023. In 2023, she co-founded Cork & Code, building restaurant software and Entwine, a mobile wine-pairing app.
Since 2022, she has chaired a Vistage peer-advisory group in Malta, mentoring CEOs through the decisions no one else sees them make. She sits on the board of MICAS – the Malta International Contemporary Art Museum.
Running through all of it: an unapologetic love of technology — for how it pushes the confines of law, raises the ceiling on what businesses deliver, and keeps her on the edge of her seat. Which is exactly why she’s here.
Silvan Mifsud, EMCS Tax and Advisory
Silvan Mifsud holds a degree in Banking & Finance from the University of Malta and an MBA from the University of Reading, specialising in Corporate Finance and Business Leadership. Silvan has been involved in various sectors of the economy from telecommunications, financial services and also manufacturing, holding various managerial and directorship roles. Silvan is a Director for Advisory Services at EMCS, whereby he specialises in economic & business advisory with a special focus on family businesses, whereby he advises various family business on various matters from financial structuring, operational efficiency, business strategy and succession planning, amongst others. He is the Chairperson of the Family Business Committee within the Malta Chamber and is also Vice President at the Malta Chamber. He also writes a family business blog https://silvansbusinessinsights.business.blog/author/silvanmifsud/ and contributes various economic analysis articles on the Malta Business Weekly.
