At Castille, the Prime Minister met with the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. In the meeting, themes related to international partnerships of the European Union were discussed, and the potential to participate and take an active part in the projects that Maltese businesses are also emerging from.
In this regard, the European Commissioner made reference to the Global Gateway initiative and those called flagship projects that are being drawn up with a budget of €150 billion. A budget aimed at helping and also spurring private investment in less developed countries so that there are also benefits for the European Union.
Of this €150 billion, approximately two-thirds of them are already allocated to more than 200 projects being carried out in Africa and other parts of the world in health, digital technology, green energy, education and transport projects. It is believed that part of these funds will be reserved for small and medium-sized enterprises, and against this background, Prime Minister Robert Abela reiterated the importance of having an exchange of information with Maltese businesses.
Against the background of tension in the Middle East, the Prime Minister and the European Commissioner also spoke about the impact of this escalation on the carriage of goods, with Prime Minister Abela pointing out how many interruptions in the sea routes have repercussions on us as a country that depends on imports by sea.
Also present at the meeting in Castile was the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg and the Head of the Secretariat within the Office of the Prime Minister, Glenn Micallef.
Photos: OPM, DOI