Maltese projects miss out on EU environment funds

Malta is one of four EU member states that are not benefitting from a €207 million EU fund dedicated to environmental projects under the Life+ programme for 2008.

Though four projects were submitted under a call that closed last November, Brussels decided to disqualify all of Malta's applications as they did not reach the desired standard and selection criteria. Both NGOs and public bodies can submit such applications.

"We received four proposals from Malta for the 2008 call, three under the Life Information & Communication strand and a proposal under the Life Nature & Biodiversity strand," a Commission spokesman said yesterday.

When asked to give details on the failed applications, the spokesman said this was not customary, citing confidentiality. He said nationality was not one of the selection criteria. "The projects are scored on an individual basis and their country of origin is not a factor."

The government is also keeping mum on the reasons why none of the projects were accepted. Luxembourg, Lithuania and Ireland are the other states excluded from the 2008 Commission allocation.

About 600 projects were submitted in all. The biggest beneficiary is Italy, which had 40 projects approved with a total allocation exceeding €92 million. Cyprus, which is always compared to Malta on an EU level, managed to receive €6.1 million for five new projects.

In past calls, Malta had managed to have some of its projects approved. In 2006, an application by BirdLife for a project on the protection of Puffinus yelkouan birds attracted nearly €500,000.

Another Life+ call for 2009 with a fund of €250 million for the co-financing of projects is under evaluation by the Commission.