Tuesday, 29th July 2008 - 17:57CET
EU approves funding for 33 projects
The European Union has already approved 33 projects which will benefit from EU funding under the 2007-2013 budget, the government said this evening. Other projects are in the pipeline. Malta was allocated £855 million in the current budget.
Replying to a statement issued earlier today by opposition leader and finance spokesman Charles Mangion (see separate story), the government said the approved projects include the building of arterial roads in Malta and Gozo, new facilities and laboratories in schools, MCAST, the Junior College and the University; training facilities at the ETC; embellishment projects in tourist areas and projects at Gozo Hospital, Villa Rundle Gardens and Wied Il-Mielah in Gozo.
The government said that Dr Mangion in his statement tried to imply that Malta was losing EU funds. This was not true and in the coming weeks more projects were set to be approved.
It was also pointed out that more than 80 project benefited from EU funding between 2004-2006 including new waste management facilities, new roads, facilities at the ETC, many training courses for woman, young people and workers; the setting up of childcare centres, assistance to Maltese farmers, the rebuilding of the ITS centre in Gozo and facilities at MCAST.
“The government has been able to source funds from the EU and is investing them in projects and initiatives which will make a difference to the people’s quality of life, including the environment, tourism, the infrastructure, education, job training and the social sector” the government said.
It added that Dr Mangion’s statement betrayed ignorance of the way the country administered EU funds. The country had a period of two years to implement EU-funded projects but it was technically necessary for Parliament in the Budget to make provision for those funds so that the ministers responsible, the Contracts Department and the Treasury could commit the funds and issue calls for tender.
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Comments
Of course A Daley and all Maltese are perfectly right to ask for numbers and details. Just because some die-hard blinkered people take all PN statements as bible, it doesn't mean that all right-thinking Maltese should also be so gullible.
But way before that you have put a billboard that we're getting our new road with EU funding but its been there for over a year now! And everything is status quo! and Dr. Gonzi uses that road daily. I cannot understand how he can miss that billboard.
Thank you.
Number please!
How much did PN OVERSPEND in the first 5 months of this year and what was the EU contribution for the last 4 years?
Numbers please!
We could have done much more with much less waste!
Numbers please!
Don't shy away from this challenge.
Numbers please!
So the present PN incompetence, is now regarded as spin? Ha ha!
Oh, yes, since 49% of the electorate had been taken for a very expensive ride.
Any suggestions what is brewing for the coming Budgets, dear experts?
How come none of PN supporters capable to come up with any figure?
They promised you a lot, they deliver very little, and when things go wrong, they always have a plausible excuse for their failures. PN in a nutshell!
Some are happy to accept the lies and deceit, then again they might have a problem with simple arithmetic and common sense.
Enjoy the difference between pre and post election realities!
That's apart from duty on goods imported from outside the eu and levies to protect its inefficient farmers which go to the eu coffers.
Consider the expenses for the hundreds of public service employees that travel daily to the eu on eu related business, what we have lost from the central bank and other losses such as from the Italian protocol and there is no doubt that we end in the negative region
a disaster full of potholes and bumps. One of the the main exit roads, down St.Paul street to Victoria gate is littered with pot holes, great for car suspension systems.
PS after 50 years living here I'm not counting on it!!
Problem is, can you add?
We want the numbers and not the promises. We've heard 100s of promises which ended up in smoke. So far we have already lost millions.
Numbers please!
First question: What is the amount in millions of Euros lost between 2004 and 2007 because the Government was either late in presentation or because the Government did not have the funding to fork out it's share?
Second question: What is the Government's share in these promised projects?
Numbers please as we should be able to see these amounts in the coming budgets!
According to the Government we should receive £m61 million a year until 2013. Is that all? What is the NET income?
Numbers please!!!!!!!