EU expected to ease suspension of education programmes

The European Commission is expected to announce a breakthrough in the issue surrounding the suspension of EU education programmes by Malta following an investigation which started five months ago and is still ongoing.

The Times has learnt that an announcement by the European Commission on the issue is expected in the coming days although a full lifting of the freeze is being ruled out, at least for the coming months.

“The Commission is expected to announce progress on the issue with Malta and a partial lifting of the current suspension is very possible,” sources in Brussels said.

“However, we are talking about strict treaty rules and taxpayers money and the Commission has to make sure Malta has put everything in place before a complete lifting of the suspension is authorised. If, in the meantime, the Maltese authorities continue to register progress, a full lifting of the suspension could be in place by the beginning of next year. However, lots of work still needs to be done,” the sources said.

Officially, not much is being said about the issue with the official Commission spokesman for education only confirming the investigation is still ongoing following a visit to Malta at the end of last month by a team of officials.

“At the stage I can only tell you we are still conducting our analysis,” he said when asked for an update. “The Maltese authorities are collaborating fully with us on this issue and it is in our common interest to find a solution as soon a possible,” he added.

Following the inspection visit by the Commission’s team, which included on-site checks at the Ministry of Education and the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA) between October 26 and 29, The Times is informed the Commission is still not fully satisfied and has asked for more assurances from the Maltese authorities. Brussels wants more supporting documents and changes to ensure a reliable accounting system in line with minimum EUquality standards is in place.

It is also insisting with the Maltese authorities to introduce a sound grant award procedure ensuring compliance with EU criteria and fair and equal treatment of beneficiaries and a system to ensure sufficient checks of beneficiaries and the correct use of EU funds.

The issue, which affects the running of the EU Youth in Action and Lifelong learning programmes, has been ongoing since last May when the Commission announced their suspension after procedures used were found not to be compliant with EU demands.

Brussels had justified the suspension citing “a persisting lack of assurance that the EU funds were being managed according to the required standards”.

Following an inquiry by the Maltese authorities, the permanent secretary at the Education Ministry and two other senior officials involved in the running of the programmes resigned from their post.

In the meantime, the government had introduced an ad hoc scheme aimed at helping the hundreds of students hit by the suspension to carry on with their projects.