A national conference was organised on how European Union cohesion policy investments have helped and continue to help in the economic and social development of Malta and Gozo, the Ministry for European Funds stated.

The ministry said that the conference was one of the initiatives of a project co-financed by the EU with the aim of increasing awareness of investments under the EU cohesion policy funding programmes. It added that the conference brought together a number of stakeholders and senior officials, and was also addressed by the Chief Executive of European Services in Malta, Rodrick Zerafa.

Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the government remains committed to strengthening cohesion policy as an essential pillar of the European project, especially in the case of a small island country like Malta, which faces challenges of insularity and geographical limitations. He added that the policy represents a guarantee of solidarity and sustainable development which allows Malta to continue growing on equal footing with the rest of the EU member states.

He said that cohesion policy is the tool that allows Malta to overcome such challenges and fully participate in the European economy and society. He commented that the government will therefore continue to embrace and promote a strong cohesion policy while continuing to work to implement more projects with EU funds in the future.

Zerafa spoke about the mission of European Services in Malta to continue strengthening public awareness of how EU funding is transforming the Maltese islands. He said that such funds are "not just numbers on paper or lines in a budget," but are an investment in people's dreams and in a better quality of life for all.

The ministry stated that the conference was also addressed by several speakers, including the Permanent Secretary for European Funds Jonathan Vassallo, as well as having recorded messages from EU Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto and EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef.