At an MCESD meeting, the social partners met to discuss European funds. This meeting was addressed by the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela and by the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.
Referring to the financial package of more than two billion euros that Malta managed to obtain for the 2021-2027 funding program, Minister Abela said that in the context of the pandemic, which has left considerable economic considerations, we must see that the funds are spent in the most responsible and wise manner. Therefore, the aim of this meeting with the social partners was to have a discussion on the best way to invest these funds in our country.
The minister recalled that last week during the meeting with the social partners on the budget for next year he stressed that the budget is a collection of specific measures that implement the medium to long term vision, in the same way we must ensure that the vision of spending these European funds is in line with the same vision. He also mentioned the role of European Services in Malta so that this agency continues to help and assist in the realization of European funded projects by non-governmental organizations and other entities, especially in light of the legislative changes that was made earlier this year.
Minister Abela concluded by saying that in order to be able to say that we are implementing a long-term sustainable vision, what comes out of these funds must be supportive for the environmental, economic and social field.
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi gave details of the priorities on which the spending programs being proposed for public consultation by four particular European Union funds are built. These are the Cohesion Fund, the fund known as the Just Transition Fund aimed at climate neutrality, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
