EU student funds inquiry a 'waste of time'

The Prime Minister's decision to launch an inquiry into mismanagement allegations that led to the suspension of EU student funds is a waste of time, according to Labour Party education spokesman Evarist Bartolo.

"There is a running joke that when a government does not want to do anything about an issue, it launches an inquiry or sets up a committee to look into the matter... What we need is action to restart the suspended educational programmes," Mr Bartolo said.

The European Commission has suspended funds for two educational programmes - Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning - after the Maltese authorities failed to rectify shortcomings over how the funds were being handled.

The Commission had first highlighted deficiencies in the management of funds by EUPA (the EU programmes agency in Malta) but was not satisfied with the control mechanisms used and recommended that changes be made by last September.

The funds were, however, suspended after the Commission said it was not satisfied with EUPA's actions. The Education Ministry has since insisted the agency implemented and was seeking to implement the Commission's recommendations.

During a press conference held outside the Education Ministry in Valletta, Mr Bartolo yesterday blamed Education Minister Dolores Cristina for the mismanagement that would lead to the derailment of about 200 projects to the detriment of "innocent students".

Mr Bartolo said he had written to the Commission and been informed that the cancellation of the funds was due to "persistent lack of assurance that EU funds are managed to the required standards".

The Commission also informed Mr Bartolo it would soon be writing to the authorities to find a solution to restart the suspended programmes.

Mr Bartolo insisted that the government should strive to restart the programmes as soon as possible rather than waste time on inquiries.

Malta's Permanent Representative in the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, explained that the government could not use national funds to replace EU funds suspended by the Commission.

The government is now waiting for the Commission to send a letter detailing what remedial action must be taken. However, implementation may take up to six months.

In a statement, the ministry said the government was in contact with the Commission to find a solution. Until then, EUPA was liaising with student agencies from other EU states to find a way for Maltese students to participate in the programmes.