Third call for non-major projects under the EU’s Cohesion Fund

The operational programme ‘Inves­ting in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life’ is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF) for the period 2007-2013.

The managing authority responsible for this operational programme is the Planning and Priorities Coordination Department Office (PPCD) of the Prime Minister. PPCD has launched a third call under Priority Axis 3: ‘Developing the TEN-T’ (maritime sector projects only) and Priority Axis 5: ‘Safeguarding the Environment’. All projects must be submitted by October 29.

The aim of Priority Axis 3 is to improve journey-time reliability and road safety through upgrades to parts of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) road infrastructure. Moreover, it also aims at improving maritime accessibility (also inter-island) by upgrading TEN-T ports and related infrastructure. The third call for non-major projects under the Cohesion Fund is restricted to the latter objective of Priority Axis 3.

Priority Axis 5 is more specifically concerned with the environment, with the objective of ‘Safeguarding the Environment’. This includes the separation of household collection and advanced mechanical, biological and thermal treatment plant for waste, as well as landfill rehabilitation. Moreover, an advanced approach for water reuse and adaptation to climate change (extreme events) is included in this objective. Furthermore, the main areas of intervention in this Priority Axis are Solid Waste and Storm Water Management. The major projects comprised in this priority axis include a Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant, Rehabilitation and Restoration of Existing and Former Waste Dump Sites and an Integrated Water Management Approach to Flood Relief and Water Conservation.

This operational programme will have a crucial role in reaching the objectives of the Maltese National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) and its convergence. It will seek to increase the competitiveness in Malta of its productive activities whilst enhancing the quality of the environment, transport facilities and services, and also cleanliness and efficiency in energy patterns. Consequently, this will lead Malta into becoming fully in line with Community environmental legislation within the programming period. Furthermore, it will also increase local infrastructures and encourage research and information technology capacities, such as for example in the Foreign Direct Investment projects.

Apart from the Priority Axes 3 and 5, which fall under the Cohesion Fund, the Operational Programme also comprises five other priority axes which fall under the ERDF: Priority 1: ‘Enhancing Knowledge and Innovation’; Priority 2: ‘Promoting Sustainable Tourism’; Priority 4: ‘Upgrading Services of General Economic Interest’; Priority 6: ‘Urban Regeneration and Improving the Quality of Life’; Priority 7: ‘Technical Assistance’ (Administration to cover Implementation of Programme).

The principle objectives defined within the priority axes are aimed at sustaining a growing, knowledge based and competitive economy as well as improving Malta’s attractiveness and quality of life.

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