The European Parliament yesterday gave its approval to the adoption of the structural funds package for the seven-year period 2007-2013. The vote allows member states enough time to plan and prepare projects eligible for funding which could start as early as January.

Malta has been allocated a budget of over e800 million, which must be spent on projects in areas such as roads, the environment, competitiveness and employment.

Reacting to yesterday’s vote, which was overwhelmingly adopted by the house in Strasbourg, PN-MEP Simon Busuttil said that the process to prepare projects that will be eligible for EU funding can now move ahead. In Malta, the government has already embarked on an unprecedented public consultation process to take on board views on how this money can be spent.

The final decision rests with the government in negotiation with the European Commission.

“I am confident that important projects will be undertaken and that these funds will have a significant impact on our country in the coming years. The e800 million plus package from the EU will be the largest ever foreign aid injection into our economy. Let us use it well,” he said.

The structural funds package totals e308 billion or 36 per cent of the total EU budget for the period 2007-2013. The European Parliament’s Regional Development Committee, of which Dr Busuttil is a member, has over the past two years been working intensely on the laws that will regulate how and on which kinds of projects the funds can be spent. The final package approved in plenary yesterday means that European Parliament has been successful in getting a number of its suggestions inserted in the final text.

“The vote in Parliament marks the end of a long negotiating process. The European Parliament has been instrumental in achieving a better EU budget which will address more effectively the needs of its citizens. Improvements have been achieved in areas such as the environment, research and development and the creation of employment. I am glad that the long hours of work on this issue have paid off.” Simon Busuttil concluded.