Update | Malta's EU fund absorption rate was third-lowest in Europe - Moody's

Malta’s absorption rate of EU funds between 2007 and 2013 was the third-lowest among EU countries, ahead of only Romania and Bulgaria, according to a study by credit-rating agency Moody’s. While €855 million in EU funds were allocated to Malta between 2007 and January 2013, only 30% of them were actually absorbed. The European Commission said that this is because Malta’s “cumbersome administrative procedures result in administrative inefficiencies”. 

Since EU funds are only handed out after the related projects are implemented and paid for by governments, EU fund absorption is “relatively correlated to government and public administration effectiveness”, Moody’s said. 

Earlier, EU Funds parliamentary secretary Ian Borg announced that €2.5 million from the European Social Fund 2007-2013 have been allocated on nine training projects to around 2,000 people employed in the public sector. 

Two training projects will be carried out by the Ministry for Energy and Health. One of these projects cost around €526,547 and will train employees at the Emergency Department at Mater Dei to provide the most efficient service possible. The other project will train the skills and competency of public officials from the same Ministry, the Water Policy Unit, and the Institute of Water Technology.

Another pilot project will offer training in security and protocol for the Malta Armed Forces. This is in the light of future high-profile events such as the CHOGM in 2015, Malta’s EU Presidency in 2017, and Valletta’s stint as European Capital of Culture in 2018.

In another project, the Malta Business Bureau will train people who work in small and medium enterprises to become more aware on how their businesses can benefit from EU funds.