{"id":50232,"date":"2025-07-19T06:47:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T05:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=50232"},"modified":"2025-07-19T06:47:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T05:47:34","slug":"agreement-signed-to-strengthen-and-facilitate-access-to-european-funds-in-the-agricultural-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/19\/agreement-signed-to-strengthen-and-facilitate-access-to-european-funds-in-the-agricultural-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Agreement signed to strengthen and facilitate access to European funds in the agricultural sector"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">\u00a0An agreement was signed between the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights and the European Services in Malta at the AgriConnect offices in Gozo \u2013 an agreement that will strengthen collaboration between the two entities so that European aid, including funds, reaches farmers more easily.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">The signing of the agreement was chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Anton Refalo, and the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> Thanks to this agreement, services will continue to be strengthened so that access to European Union funding in the agricultural sector is facilitated.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Through AgriConnect in Gozo, the SEM will be able to maintain direct contact with Gozitan farmers and inform them of funding calls related to agriculture.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">This means that no one is left behind or uninformed about crucial opportunities for their development.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Therefore, this agreement is a testament to the Government\u2019s commitment to continue supporting Gozitan and Maltese farmers.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Minister Anton Refalo reiterated that this agreement reflects the Government\u2019s clear commitment to reducing the administrative burden on farmers, particularly when it comes to accessing European funds.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">This not only means less bureaucracy, but also more time and resources for agricultural production and the sustainable development of Gozitan land.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> \u201cAgriculture is not just a job \u2013 it is an identity, a culture and a support for future generations. Therefore, this agreement is a symbol of mutual trust, responsibility and a common vision between the Government and its institutions, together with the agricultural community,\u201d added Minister Refalo.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi stressed the importance of this agreement as a means to improve the services provided to farmers and ranchers, in a way that makes European funds more accessible to them.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">He thanked the Ministry for Agriculture and the European Services in Malta for their cooperation and commitment, and stressed that this collaboration is a concrete step that continues to strengthen support for the agricultural sector in our country.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> \u201cWith this agreement we are offering more effective and people-friendly support, and ensuring that farmers and ranchers are in a better position to obtain assistance and financing from European funds,\u201d said Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">SEM\u2019s Chief Executive Officer, Rodrick Zerafa, said that this agreement is the result of work carried out by SEM in recent years where a number of initiatives were identified that facilitate access to European funds for farmers and ranchers.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">SEM was instrumental, among others, in simplifying certain processes and thus allowing more farmers and ranchers to apply.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">\u201cAnyone wishing to apply for European funds should not give up before they start. Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for the funds to be taken and used for the benefit of both those who benefit from them and society in general.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_50232\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"50232\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0An agreement was signed between the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights and the European Services in Malta at the AgriConnect offices in Gozo \u2013 an agreement that will strengthen collaboration between the two entities so that European aid, including funds, reaches farmers more easily. The signing of the agreement was chaired by the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_50232\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"50232\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"\u00a0An agreement was signed between the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights and the European Services in Malta at the AgriConnect offices in Gozo \u2013 an agreement that will strengthen collaboration between the two entities so that European aid, including funds, reaches farmers more easily. The signing of the agreement was chaired by the&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50232"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50234,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50232\/revisions\/50234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}