The Prime Minister said yesterday that the European Commission has approved Malta's proposals on how to spend the É855 million that the EU allocated to the island for the coming seven years.

Dr Gonzi said Malta was the first EU country to have its proposals approved during a technical meeting on Thursday.

Speaking during the opening of the Nationalist Party's general council - with the theme Renewing Successes Together - Dr Gonzi said tenders for works will start being announced as soon as the Commission's official confirmation was received.

He described this as part of the party's chain of successes, mentioning a number of achievements that the country made. Referring to the decrease in the country's deficit, Dr Gonzi said this should attract foreign investment.

With regard to the upcoming change in currency, he said this would have a big beneficial effect on tourism.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening the seven pillars on which the country was built - work, the environment, health, pensions, education, the family and Gozo. Referring to climate change, Dr Gonzi said the party needed to contribute to this problem, especially since this could lead to rising water levels that would rob the country of precious land.

Dr Gonzi said his party had never been afraid of change and in the past 20 years the Nationalist Party in government had brought about a number of changes.

He described the current period as an important time, adding that, as the general election approached, the country was closing a chapter and opening a new one.

PN deputy leader Tonio Borg, who closed yesterday's session, said no economic progress would have been possible had the country not achieved stability.

Referring to the police corps, he said there was a time when the police uniform instilled fear but today it enjoyed the respect of the people.

The government had worked to relieve pressures on families, giving particular attention to those with certain needs. The forthcoming budget - that would consolidate last year's - would include more measures to help the family.

Within the health sector, he stressed, the government was not happy with what was already on offer, but was committed to improve, something that was being done with the opening of Mater Dei Hospital next month.

The party would not lose its social responsibility and this would not end with the next election.

The conference ends tomorrow.