In the agreed EU Budget for 2014-2020, €70 billion have been earmarked for research and development for the next seven years. Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: "Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has hailed the Youth guarantee programme proposed by the EU, but Malta does not qualify for a single euro since Malta's youth unemployment rate is much under 25%. On the other hand, if it plays its cards well, Malta can obtain a sizeable chunk of the 70 billion destined for research and innovation. The Maltese Prime Minister should concentrate on such objective, since Malta University, MCAST and all Maltese Small and Medium Enterprises would strongly benefit from the huge potential that the fund offers".

Mario Mallia, AD spokesperson on education, argued that development in all areas, be it social, economic, technological or otherwise, depends on research and innovation. To this end, a number of priorities need to be identified after due consultation with the social partners, educational institutions, civil society etc. These priorities would then be the backbone of Malta's submissions in tapping these funds.