€3.4 million in EU funding for Haywharf eyesore

The monstrous structure (above) built at Haywharf for the Armed Forces will cost Maltese taxpayers €1.1 million, with the remaining €3.4 million being contributed by the EU.

The structure is to “serve for the national security interest” and is related to maritime border control missions, a spokesperson for home affairs minister Carmelo Abela told MaltaToday.

The rapid deployment launching facility for the AFM will cost €4.5 million and is part-financed (75%) by the EU External borders fund for the years 2007-2013.

The facility will house Rapid Interceptor Boats and is to be equipped with a 20-tonne overhead travelling crane that will permit all routine maintenance to be conducted under cover, while also providing for the quick launch and recovery of the craft as required.

Complementing the project will be storage spaces to support the craft, accommodation facilities for standby crews, training and other administrative facilities are being constructed.  

Earlier this week, Green MEPs Helga Truepel and Franziska Keller, in collaboration with Alternattiva Demokratika, tabled a question in the European Parliament asking if European funds were being used for this project and, if yes, how much money is being contributed by the EU and under what budget headline.

The ministry spokesperson confirmed that the structure was built in accordance with legal notice 287 of 2013 by MEPA, which exempts the army from seeking a planning permit.

Through this legal notice, no planning notification is  required “where in the opinion of the Minister responsible for the Armed Forces or the Minister responsible for Immigration, the development is urgently required for national security reasons or for humanitarian, security or other relevant reasons, respectively.”

The Ministry confirmed that the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had been consulted.

When asked for his personal opinion on the subject earlier on this week, Environment Minister Leo Brincat replied that, “what is an eyesore is an eyesore”.