If successful, the bids would result in an allocation of over Lm2.3 million to Mepa for training, capacity building, acquisition of equipment, promotion of environmental education, research and IT development.
This is in addition to some Lm1 million worth of projects that Mepa already currently enjoys from pre-accession funds.
The EU and Multilateral Affairs Unit at Mepa explained that major projects submitted by Mepa to the EU for funding included four transitional facility projects and three projects for European regional development funds.
The transitional facility projects, valued at Lm500,000 in total, target air pollution, nature protection, enforcement as well as the implementation of the polluter pays principle in environmental policy making.
Equipment, management plans, training and communication will be funded by the EU if the projects are accepted.
The projects submitted by Mepa under the European regional development fund allocation for Malta target marine areas (around Filfla), the use of renewable energy in public transport and air quality. Together they amount to Lm1.2 million worth of funding from the EU’s structural funds.
Mepa has also joined up with a number of other partner countries to benefit from funds through the Interreg programme. Projects target various environmental issues and involve active cooperation between the different regions of Europe.
Mepa would be allocated over Lm300,000 in total should all the projects be approved by the EU, but would also benefit from increased experience and sharing of knowledge.
Mepa has also placed bids for funding under Leonardo in relation to staff training, under Socrates in relation to environmental education, and under FP6, which provides money for research. In addition, in recent months, a number of experts have been brought to Malta on Mepa’s initiative thanks to TAIEX funding, which provides the opportunity for short-term visits by experts from members states.
Mepa started to benefit from EU funding prior to accession due to its participation in pre-accession projects. A capacity-building project intended to assist Malta to implement the environmental acquis started one year ago and is envisaged to last until September. The project is worth some Lm700,000 and includes an environmental awareness campaign.
A further pre-accession project related to collation of information on the environment is shortly to enter the contractual phase, having been approved by the EU. Its value totals some Lm270,000.
The EU projects section and multilateral affairs unit also said that Mepa is involved in assisting the Planning Priorities Coordination Directorate within Office of the Prime Minister with reviewing the application for funding under Structural Funds and urged applicants to give the environment due consideration in their bids to the EU.