The Armed Forces of Malta and various government agencies yesterday demonstrated the way EU funds were being used during a migrants’ search and rescue simulation exercise held a few miles off the island.

The AFM took centre stage after benefiting from the bulk of €84 million given to Malta since 2007 as SOLID Funds (General Programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows).

The funds were used to buy two King Air fixed-wing aircraft fitted with search and rescue equipment and four Austal patrol boats built to Maltese specifications in Australia.

The money also refurbished and improved two rescue launches, embellished the AFM’s rescue control centre and set up an integrated communications system and a mobile control centre, which can be deployed on overseas operations if necessary.

By 2014, the AFM plans to acquire two or three twin-engine helicopters to replace its 40-year-old Alouettes.

The “migrant” boat was located by a King Air plane before a helicopter, two patrol boats and a rescue launch arrived on the scene to perform the rescue.

Malta has also received money from the refugee fund agency and the return fund.

It is being used to maintain migrant centres, as well as repatriating migrants.

About 300 migrants have been repatriated this year so far, apart from those who were relocated to the US or other European countries. Funds have also been used to assist migrant integration.

Parliamentary assistant Beppe Fenech Adami and senior AFM officers were among those who attended the exercise.