Malta not making the most of European social funding

In a report published by the European Social Fund regarding the use of funding available to member countries it was clear that Malta has under-spent in this regard. Malta has spent a total of €9 million for the European Social Fund.

This is only a very small percentage of the €132 million it has at its disposal. It is estimated that by the end of 2013 only €15 million will have been spent, leaving a large percentage unutilized.

According to statistics published in the report, between the year 2000 and 2006 only €9 million has been spent, putting Malta at the bottom of the list of countries making use of the European Social Fund.

Other small countries that joined Europe in the same batch in 2004 have made better use of the funds. Cyprus drew on €22 million between 2000 and 2006. Other countries appearing higher on the list are Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and France.

The purpose of the European Social Fund is to mimimise differentiation in levels of standard of living among member states. The fund may to be utilised to provide unemployment benefits, to fund research and innovation, and to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce.

€132 million were allocated to Malta for spending on social causes between 2007 and 2013