Alternattiva Demokratika applauded the government for having recently obtained the European Commission's approval for both of its Operational Programmes for Cohesion Policy 2003-2017. AD acknowledged that this was the climax of a very thorough strategic process involving in-depth socio-economic analysis, evaluation, wide consultation and negotiation which has spanned some months.

AD chairperson Harry Vassallo said: "This is an opportunity for Maltese and Gozitan civil societies and all organisations to learn to network and work together in order to invest in human capital, public infrastructure, tourism, transport, environment and risk prevention."

Dr Vassallo pointed out that "EU structural funds are public funds and therefore transparency and accountability throughout all the process of any project application are a must in order to avoid corruption and fair competition between non-government organisations and government entities".