EU funds have become an invaluable resource for local government and the voluntary sector within Malta as through the various EU funds such organisations can be able to carry out research and studies, implement initiatives, develop their organisations and provide better opportunities in
the community
EU funds have become an invaluable resource for local government and the voluntary sector within Malta as through the various EU funds such organisations can be able to carry out research and studies, implement initiatives, develop their organisations and provide better opportunities in
the community
In fact, Meusac’s Funding Unit has been established to empower local councils and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to further benefit from these EU funding opportunities. Support is therefore provided through:
• One-to-one meetings with organisations to discuss project concepts and identify possible EU funding opportunities;
• Guidance in various fields such as project planning, design and the eligibility of initiatives within the context of the funding programme earmarked for the project in question.
The guidance highlighted is further complemented by a number of other services which in turn seek to make EU funding accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
Events
A number of EU information-themed events are organised on a regular basis by Meusac so as to further empower organisation in the numerous areas linked to EU funding. Importance is also given to the communication of EU funding programmes so as to reach out to organisations which may have not benefited from EU financial support.
This year, the funding team will be holding a quarterly event titled ‘Explore: EU funding opportunities’ focussing on funding possibilities available to specific sectors spanning from culture and the arts to the environment. Further details on events scheduled for this year will be made available on Meusac’s website and www.funding360.eu.
‘funding360.eu’
To further complement its role of information provider, the Funding Unit launched funding360.eu in 2011. Through its innovative design, the monthly newsletter hosts contributions made by local and foreign-based contact experts on EU funds with the aim of providing information on a whole range of funding programmes and thus funding360.eu is a one-stop shop on EU funds. Other features in this online newsletter include web alerts and RSS feeds which are issued every fortnight.
To register to funding360.eu’s web alert service, log on www.funding360.eu/register-to-alerts.
‘Going beyond 10 million’
Within its first three years, the funding team has assisted local councils, NGOs and other partner organisations in obtaining over €13 million in EU funds. The financial support has contributed to the realisation of projects spanning the embellishment of rural localities to youth-themed initiatives.
A number of these initiatives have been covered in the publication entitled Going beyond 10 million – EU funded project. Launched in December 2011, the catalogue highlights how organisations through Meusac’s guidance, have tapped into EU funding with the aim of contributing to their own projects as well as the communities they are active in.
Going beyond 10 million is also a source of inspiration for entities which have so far not considered EU Programmes as a means to bring their project ideas to fruition. To reserve a copy of the publication, one can contact Meusac.
Meanwhile, organisations which would like to get to know more about the services and support being offered by Meusac’s Funding Unit can get in touch with the same unit.
Simon Grech is an Executive
(EU Funding) – Meusac