Government launches public consultation on EU funds

Competitiveness, the environment and investment in human resources are the three priorities selected by the Cabinet in its plans for the EU funds covering the next seven years.

Addressing the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) members this morning, deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech said: "the government is looking at setting a strategy which lasts beyond the next five years," adding that the government was committed to utilise the EU finds in the best possible way.

The draft document launched today includes the key priority areas that the government intends to address and the actions that it intends to take to ensure that the EU 2020 targets are achieved.

The European Affairs minister underlined the importance to strengthen the country's economic, social and environmental development and "improve the citizen's quality of life."

Following today's MCESD consultation, a public consultation meeting is set to be held on Wednesday and another meeting is to be held in Gozo at a later date.

 Malta was granted €1.128 billion in funds in the next financial period covering the EU's budgets from 2014 to 2020 , a deal clinched by the previous administration in February.

Grech said the government was looking at addressing the country's real needs and had identified three main funding priorities. These include; fostering competitiveness through innovation, sustaining an environmentally friendly and resource-efficient economy and creating opportunities through investment in human capital and improving health and well-being.

The next step would be that of identifying individual projects which would then need the European Commission's approval.

"The government is looking at achieving a long-lasting legacy and foster economic and social development for present and future generations," Grech  said.

The Parliamentary Secretary for EU funding, Ian Borg also addressed the social partners and said that once the public consultation will be over by September and the government will presenting the final document to the European Commission by the end of the year.