The European Social Fund (ESF) has funded training for more than 7,000 Maltese, leading to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs in Malta and Gozo as a result of 55 projects since Malta joined the EU in 2004, said Education Minister Louis Galea yesterday.

Dr Galea was speaking at a news conference inaugurating the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary since the ESF was set up.

The four-day event is being organised by Malta’s Managing Authority for ESF, the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division within the Office of the Prime Minister.

ESF was set up in 1957 to support the EU’s employment objectives. Over the past 50 years, ESF has helped millions of EU citizens to reach their full potential in terms of training, skills and employment.

Dr Galea said that his ministry has implemented 23 projects funded by the ESF during the past four years.

“These projects include the provision of adult training courses in subjects ranging from literacy to entrepreneurship, traditional crafts to information technology,” he said.

Other projects consist of work experience schemes which have proved to be of benefit not only to participants, but also to the employers providing them with work placements, added Dr Galea.

This week the ministry would apply for a number of projects linked to employment and training with the aim of providing more Maltese and Gozitan citizens with skills and exposure that would render them more employable, he said.

The Principal Permanent Secretary and chairperson of the ESF Monitoring Committee, Godwin Grima, said that although, compared to other member states, Malta has made use of the ESF for only three and a half years, it was still a very positive experience.

He said that it was the EU’s oldest fund and that, so far, Malta has implemented a total of 55 projects with over 25 NGOs and public entities participating in the programme.

“The ESF creates projects and programmes that are closely linked to the human element,” he said.

He also mentioned that many small NGOs often found it difficult to apply to the ESF because of the red tape involved.

“Even though they might find it overwhelming, it is important to find a balance between bureaucracy and flexibility. At the end of the day, these are public funds and have to be used responsibly,” he said.

Malta had several examples of good practice and a lot has been learnt from the experience achieved during the past three and a half years, he added.

During 2004 and 2006, a total of Lm4.6million/EUR 10.8 million worth of ESF funds were allocated to projects in Malta and Gozo.

Between 2007-2013, a total of Lm48 million/EUR12 million worth of ESF has been allocated to finance new projects. This amount will be increased to Lm56.6 million/EUR132 million when including national co-financing.

Dr Grima explained that the first call for applications for ESF closes this week and the second call will close on 14 September.

Social Solidarity and Family Minister Dolores Cristina said that her ministry had achieved good results in the eight ESF projects it implemented and added that equal opportunities and social inclusion are among the main priorities of ESF.

Her ministry was the intermediate body for ESF for the 2004 and 2006 ESF measures and also provides administrative support to the Community Initiative Equal, as the National Support Structure.

These projects were managed by Agenzija Appogg, the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE), Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), Housing Authority and the Access Centre for Research in the Community.

Head of European Commission Representation in Malta Joanna Drake spoke about the importance of celebrating this anniversary, especially in the light of the recent celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary since the EU was set up.

“The EU created a fund that implemented the principle of social solidarity into reality for the people,” said Dr Drake.

The ESF Anniversary Celebrations will continue at Freedom Square, Valletta today and tomorrow between 10am and 7.30pm and at the Marsalforn Promenade in Gozo on Friday between 5pm and 11pm.

The event is co-financed by the EU through the Structural Funds Programme for Malta, 2004-2006: 75 per cent financed by the European Social Fund and 25 per cent financed by the government.