Regional Projects Committee set up in Gozo

A Regional Projects Committee has been set up to select and prioritise the 8.5 million in Gozo projects funded under the European Union Structural Funds.

The committee was set up for the programming period of 2004 to 2006, and is also responsible for the follow up of project implementation and measures, and the identification of selection criteria of all other priorities of the Single Programming Document.

The committee is made up of representatives of the local councils, the Gozo Business Chamber, the Gozo Tourism Association, the Gozo University Group, operators in the Gozo crafts industry, the Gozitan Co-operatives involved in the Agricultural and Fisheries sector and non-governmental associations, who together with the chairperson, deputy chairperson and director responsible for EU affairs within the Gozo Ministry, form the core group with voting rights.

It also includes as ad hoc members, representatives of the Managing Authority, three ex ufficio Gozo Ministry members and representatives of the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), Malta Enterprise, Water Services Corporation (WSC), the Malta Environ-ment and Planning Authority (MEPA), the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), Enemalta Corporation, Maltacom, Malta Maritime Authority, the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), Gozo Channel Co Ltd and the trade unions.

Minister Giovanna Debono, who chairs the committee said at its first meeting that the Regional Projects Committee, established during the EU negotiations period, was a particular achievement for Gozo. Referring to the Declaration on Gozo in the Accession Treaty and the Gozo Priority in the SPD, she stated that these are all examples of the special treatment provided to Gozo by the EU, allowing exceptions, including geographical priority.

The minister explained how the Gozo Ministry had been working the current member organisations to identify the island's particular needs, especially during the "Special Needs Assessment Study for the island of Gozo", which was conducted by the EU.

During this time, the Gozo Ministry had created a forum with all the stakeholders in Gozo to discuss the island's particular handicaps, caused by its double insularity and to propose adequate measures to counterbalance the effects, she said.

The Gozo Ministry, during the past year has been preparing the requirements based on the results and recommendations of organisations, as documented in the Special Needs Assessment Study, to enable the EU- co-funded projects to be filed in time for the March 18 deadline.

The committee unanimously approved the Gozo Ministry's selection of infrastructural projects and measures for the development of human resources, to be funded under the Structural Funds.

The infrastructural projects approved include the reconstruction of roads, the setting up of a training hotel in Qala, a decompression chamber at the Gozo General Hospital and the establishment of artificial dive sites.

Emphasising the importance of the committee's responsibilities, in view of the development of Gozo, Minister Debono also said the island will now be living a new experience.

Wishing the committee success in its endeavours for Gozo, she appealed to the members to continue working to further develop the island. The minister also expressed gratitude towards the Office of the Prime Minster and Ronald Gallimore, head of the delegation of the European Commission in Malta, for their support in establishing the committee which will enable the island face the future with confidence.