The Malta EU Steering Action Committee wants to facilitate access by volunteer organisations to EU funds by providing them with additional financial backing required for their projects.

Meusac head Vanni Xuereb mentioned the possibility of government funding for the purpose when he addressed a conference on EU Structural Funds organised by Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit.

Contacted later, he said the committee was drawing up a report on the proposal which would be presented to the government for approval.

Representatives from various NGOs and local councils attended the conference during which organisations shared their experiences on accessing EU funds.

Over the past few years, voluntary organisations have often held back from tapping EU funds for proposed projects as they struggled to find funding for that portion not covered by the EU. Before granting funds, in fact, the EU demanded evidence that the remaining expenses would be covered by the government or private entities.

So far, the Maltese government has assisted these organisations through the Civil Society Fund, which helps them keep up with developments within the EU by, for example, funding courses and seminars.

In a recent meeting, Meusac discussed opening up the fund to include money for the co-financing of EU projects. Dr Xuereb said he could not promise that the full amount required in co-financing for each project would be made available by the government as technicalities were still being ironed out.

"I can safely say that the government wishes to see an element of support through co-financing going towards NGOs," Dr Xuereb said when contacted.

Last month, a €303,000 co-financing fund was set up by the government to assist in local council projects that require co-financing in order to be implemented.