The Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and 2017 Presidency, Ian Borg, has called on the European Commission to streamline and simplify the rules governing EU structural and investment funds.

Addressing a meeting of EU Foreign and European Affairs Ministers in Brussels, Borg stated that the complexities of the rules impinge directly on the effective management and implementation of EU-funded projects.

The Parliamentary Secretary stated that these burdensome and time-consuming rules act as an obstacle to access by smaller organisations and stakeholders which should be equally entitled to the opportunities provided by EU funds. Ultimately, it is citizens who are worse off due to the status quo.

Borg's comments were made during a discussion related to the European Commission's decision to set up a high-level group of independent experts to reflect on simplifying EU structural funds in order to ease access by beneficiaries.

The Parliamentary Secretary welcomed the development, and also stressed that an efficient system must have at its core the principle of 'proportionality'. Such a proportional system should take into account both the administrative structures of each member state, as well as the specific size of the projects being funded.

The meeting of the General Affairs Council also discussed the contribution of EU structural and investment funds to supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy, particularly in view of the UN Climate Change Conference to take place in Paris in December.

Mr Borg stated that Malta is committed to doing its part, noting interventions in several sectors, such as energy and transport, the shift towards a low-carbon efficient economy, as well as waste and water. He added that, while the green economy in Malta is modest in size, it is gaining ground and employing more workers in a number of industries.