A unit that will assist local councils and non-governmental organisations to secure EU funding will be fully operational by early next year.

Vanni Xuereb, head of the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee (Meusac), said the unit was at present providing "limited" assistance due to lack of staff.

A process of recruiting additional staff and someone to head the unit, which is run by Meusac, was underway.

The unit, Dr Xuereb said, will not only distribute information to local councils and NGOs about available funds but also help them in drawing up funding applications.

Currently, he said, the unit was operating with the support of an expert consultant on EU funding programmes. He added that once all recruitment options were exhausted, the unit was expected to be "up and running" by January 1.

Dr Xuereb was speaking at the opening of a seminar dealing with the EU's Europe for Citizens Programme for 2007-2013, which is aimed at bringing Europe closer to its citizens and facilitate European integration.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said pointed out that the seminar's aim was to disseminate information about the programme to "convince those who have not yet benefited from it to realise the potential of Europe for citizens".

It was very important, Dr Said added, for Malta to fully take part in EU programmes and initiatives because it provided an opportunity for the country to implement projects that addressed local needs, and allowed stakeholders to contribute to the EU's common aims.