Updated - Adds government reaction - The Nationalist Party this evening called on the government to address the confusion surrounding the administration of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) without further delay.
Times of Malta revealed earlier how “technical problems” have prevented the government from rolling out a new EU food aid programme. See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150608/local/most-deprived-maltese-must-wait-for-eu-food-aid.571549
Malta is set to receive nearly €4 million for the period 2014-2020, but the Government has yet to finalise the details of the implementation of new programme.
“The reports are of concern. This is a programme aimed at alleviating the suffering of those hardest hit in Malta and Gozo, and the delays, coupled with the government trying to shift the responsibility between different departments or trying to blame bureaucracy, is simply unacceptable,” said EU and Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister Roberta Metsola.
“Unsurprisingly, Joseph Muscat’s administration encountered no such bureaucratic obstacles when handing over undeveloped land to speculators across Malta, or when giving taxpayer-funded salaries to those closest to him, and yet he has been unable to act to help those on the breadline,” she added.
The Shadow Minister for Social Policy, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, said it was unclear when the distribution of the assistance under the new programme will begin, and who is responsible for the Fund.
“This must become a priority. Government must take the necessary action to ensure that this situation is rectified without further delay in the best interest of those in need,” she insisted.
GOVERNMENT REACTION
In a reaction the Ministry for Social Solidarity said it has been undertaking administrative preparations, which are still ongoing, to start issuing the food aid under the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD).
"It should be pointed out that this is a new programme which has different requirements to the one existing previously and therefore new arrangements are being introduced to meet such requirements in line with the FEAD Operational Programme for Malta, as approved by the European Commission," the ministry said.
It said it aims to provide the most deprived households with periodic distribution of food items to alleviate the risk of poverty. Food packages will be distributed to deprived households, taking into account the financial situation of the households in accordance with pre-established selection criteria as approved in the Operational Programme.
The ministry said it is in the process of reissuing the tender for the provision, packaging and delivery of food items, as well as the Call for Partner Organisation/s, since submissions for both tender and call did not fully meet the eligibility criteria when these were issued for the first time.
"If these are awarded during this second round of calls, then it is anticipated that the distribution of food items in Malta and Gozo will commence later this year."