Councillors urged to take up EU funding opportunities

Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici yesterday urged councillors to be active and tap EU project funding opportunities, and participate in EU-funded training seminars, conferences and similar activities.

Speaking at a meeting for councillors organised by the Local Councils Association, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said it was important for councillors to look at themselves as catalysts of change, and to take initiatives to seize such opportunities.

A number of councils had already benefited from EU assistance in youth programmes and structural funds, he added. There were also a number of project proposals submitted under bilateral programmes, such as the EEA/Norway financial mechanism, under which around €3 million was available.

The government had drawn up operational programmes for the next seven years, which included particular programmes where local councils could submit projects, he pointed out.

Councils would be able to tap Lm1.8 million through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Councils could also benefit from another Lm1 million administered by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), he said.