EU funds should be used to set up a satellite receiving station to strengthen Malta’s internet connectivity and promote the island as a centre for foreign TV production companies, the Nationalist Party has proposed.
The proposal is among a list of “innovative ideas” contained in a 36-page report that the PN recently submitted to the government during public consultation on the government’s plans for using EU cohesion and structural funds up to 2020. The EU’s budget for Malta for that seven-year period is €1,128 million.
The satellite receiving station is being touted by the PN as an investment in the country’s information technology infrastructure, providing alternative internet connectivity should one of the fibre-optic cables linking Malta to Sicily fail.
At the same time this infrastructure would encourage the setting up of satellite TV content production companies in Malta, the PN said.
The party has made some 70 proposals on how to use the EU funds.
They include the rehabilitation of a number of sites previously used for illegal dumping, improving palliative care for terminally ill patients and the setting up of an agriculture research centre in Gozo.
It would encourage the setting up of satellite TV content production companies in Malta
Addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Pietà, PN spokeswoman on EU Affairs Marthese Portelli yesterday said this initiative was testament to the proactive approach being taken by the Opposition.
Dr Portelli and the PN’s spokesman for EU funds welcomed a number of initiatives laid out in the government’s plans but expressed concern that in some respects the government’s proposals were vague and no particular emphasis was being laid on Gozo.
While welcoming the allocation of €72 million for economic growth and job creation, the PN suggested greater emphasis be placed on research and innovation in areas like social sciences and humanities.
Dr Portelli also noted that the manufacturing industry did not feature in the government’s plans.
In ICT, concern was raised about the fact that the previous adminstration’s fibre-to-home project seemed to have been put on the backburner since the change of government. The PN said that too much emphasis was being placed on e-commerce whereas there was no clear vision on how e-government services would evolve.
The PN suggested schemes to support the expansion of SMEs and others for the creative industries, so they would not be treated merely as a means to enhance the tourism product.
Regarding energy, the PN proposed incentives for residential buildings with no access to solar energy, measures to improve energy efficiency and schemes to encourage energy audits.
On the other hand, it raised questions on the government’s commitment to maximise investment in renewable energy generation only if the investment was feasible.
This was contrary to the aim of these funds, Dr Portelli argued, as they were specifically intended to support projects that would not normally be commercially viable.
Other proposals put forward by the PN were for better monitoring of ground water, improved funding for industrial heritage sites and the protection of marine biodiversity and bird species.
Suggestions to reduce noise pollution from traffic and in village centres were also put forward.
In a statement, the government said negotiations to finalise the Partnership Agreement and the Operational Programmes for this seven-year period were in the final stage. Contrary to the PN’s claims it had clear and concrete plans on how to make best use of the funds.