About 200 projects submitted by Maltese organisations and individuals could be derailed by the EU's decision to suspend funding for two educational programmes.

The European Commission yesterday said it had taken this unusually harsh action after the Maltese authorities failed to rectify irregularities flagged in August.

Although there was "no evidence of fraud", the Commission complained about persistent lack of assurance as well as management weaknesses related to the accounting system and implementation procedures followed.

Students who applied for projects as part of the Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning programmes or who were waiting for their Erasmus applications to be processed are fuming about the possibility of missing out on such "once in a lifetime" opportunities.

Some €4 million were earmarked for Malta in projects for this year and these risk being lost if the situation is not resolved soon.

The Education Ministry insisted yesterday it had started implementing the Commission's recommendations as soon as they were made. However, the EU was clearly not happy with the action taken because it warned that the programme would be suspended in March, then moved to suspend it on May 7.

Labour newspaper KullĦadd reported on Sunday that one of the main people involved in the national office which distributes funds for the Lifelong Learning programme is Alessandro Cristina, the son of Education Minister Dolores Cristina.

In an article on Maltastar.com, Labour education spokesman Evarist Bartolo accused the minister of cronyism and said that, instead of addressing the problems, she "got rid of the officials who drew her attention to irregularities and bad management".

The ministry said that Mr Cristina, a programmes' manager at the European Union Programmes Agency in Malta, was employed in 2003 (before his mother became minister responsible for the agency), after a public call for recruitment and had to pass through a competitive process.

The situation has thrown in limbo the plans of many students benefitting under one programme or another and who were advised by the University yesterday to hold any preparations "until further notice" and, in particular, not to undertake any financial obligations such as deposits for accommodation and flights.

Asked when the suspension was expected to be lifted, a spokesman for the Commission said the programmes would be resumed once Brussels was satisfied with the progress achieved.

A letter detailing all the requirements that needed to be addressed would be sent shortly, the spokesman said.

Asked whether the Commission was expecting any disciplinary action to be taken, the spokesman reiterated that no evidence of fraud had been found and, therefore, it would continue to cooperate with the Maltese authorities to address the problems and resume normal operations "as soon as possible".

He added that the Commission was aware of the impact of this decision and "deeply regrets" that a number of European citizens and organisations willing to participate in the programmes would not be able to do so.

The ministry promised disciplinary action under public sector regulations "when and if" it resulted that there was a case for such action to be taken.

A Facebook group entitled Erasmus Now! has been set up, calling for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.

Law student Matthew Mizzi, who set up the group, said he felt cheated because this was a big loss for Maltese students which could have been prevented.

"I have been planning my Erasmus trip since July 2009. I have invested time and energy into the experience, only to find out that maladministration will prevent me from reaping the fruit of my hard work. I demand clear answers and accountability from those responsible."

The Labour Youth Forum and the organisation of progressive students Move have also called for responsibility to be shouldered.