Malta's share of cohesion funds from the next EU budget is higher than the per capita average allocated to the other nine new member states, European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner says in an interview given to The Times ahead of a two-day visit to Malta, starting today.
Ms Hubner said that according to Commission calculations, during the next seven years Malta will be receiving six per cent more than the average of funds being pumped to the other nine new EU member states.
When compared to the EU 27, which include Bulgaria and Romania, Malta's receipts account to more than twice the per capita average.
The total amount of cohesion funds dedicated to Malta for 2007-2013 is €728 million.
During her visit to Malta, Commissioner Hubner will be discussing the progress made so far by the Maltese authorities on the technical preparations to spend its cohesion allocations and she will also visit current projects being undertaken in Gozo with EU funds.
Commissioner Hubner will hold talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and pay a courtesy visit to President Eddie Fenech Adami.