Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech today announced that the Environment and an Inclusive Society would get €400m in EU funds over the next seven years.
Mr Grech and Dr Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, presided over the official launch of the 2014-2020 Operational Programmes for Malta at the Grand Hotel Excelsior today. Officials from the European Commission were also present for the launching event.
Mr Grech said the programmes would contribute to the socio-economic development of the country and make an important contribution to a better quality of life. He said the funds were equivalent to a direct injection of almost 2 percent of GDP per annum.
Major other fund allocations include €72m for the University and private industry to stimulate research and innovation, €53m for SMEs, €57m for the low-carbon economy, €38m for ICT, and €100m for sustainable transport.
The Operational Programmes are the implementing arms of the Partnership Agreement of Malta. The programmes set out Government’s investment plan for the EU Funds 2014-2020 for Malta in line with Malta’s priorities as well as the Europe 2020 targets. Two Operational Programmes have been approved by the European Commission for Malta, covering the three funding priorities of the Partnership Agreement of Malta.
The first programme, Operational Programme I, will be jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund for a total financial envelope of €718m. The aim of Operational Programme I is to further economic development, improve environment sustainability and invest in a more social inclusive society.
The second programme, Operational Programme II, will be funded by the European Social Fund for a total financial envelope of €132m. The primary objective of Operational Programme II is to invest in human capital to create more opportunities and promote the well-being of society.
The two Programmes complement each other in the interventions and actions they will support and will cover the whole territory of Malta; in this regard, Gozo’s territorial challenges will be addressed in a horizontal manner, across both programmes, through strategic investments with a view to improving accessibility of the island, enhancing its competitiveness and providing the necessary educational and training opportunities.
During the launching event, it was announced that the Managing Authority, the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, would be issuing first calls for proposals next week. Information relating to these calls can be found on www.eufunds.gov.mt.