The Prime Minister attended the World Economic Forum at Davos last week, which was an opportunity to showcase Malta’s attractiveness to the world’s business leaders and others who shape the global economy.
A new term was coined at Davos this year – Europtimism.
Politico magazine describes the EU as “that young, self-confident, upbeat player strutting through this town”. For the first time since the euro was new, and Eastern Europe was cool, Europeans can claim centre stage.
2016 was a tough year for the EU – arguably, its most challenging yet - with the Brexit vote, the rise of populist parties and economic stagnation. But the EU has emerged politically and economically far stronger than anyone imagined possible.
The EU taking centre stage on the world scene is something we should celebrate. So how do we channel that Europtimism in Malta? This is the challenge I set the MEUSAC core group last Friday, because this is where the work of MEUSAC is so crucial. Connecting the EU to its citizens. Engaging in its work and celebrating our shared success.
Last week I met with a number of beneficiaries of European funds that were aided by MEUSAC. It was inspiring and heartening to see the transformative impact the funds are having.
I met the Birkirkara Badminton Club, which benefitted from the Erasmusplus Sport programme to deliver a project that focuses on a number of activities aimed at increasing awareness and exchanging knowledge of how to protect athletes, especially the youngest, from health and safety hazards; this by improving training and competition conditions.
I learned from the GRTU – the Malta Chamber for SMEs – about how it benefitted from the European Social Fund with a project that gave it the tools and the capacity it needed in order to be a more effective social partner through a combination of training, studies, awareness campaigns and networking opportunities.
It was inspiring and heartening to see the transformative impact the funds are having
I heard from Għaqda Każini tal-Baned, which benefitted from the Erasmusplus programme to enabled young Maltese musicians to exchange information and good practices with counterparts in Spain and Serbia, in order to better understand the endless dynamics of music and to learn new playing skills.
The Scout Association of Malta has also benefitted from the Erasmusplus programme to organise a youth exchange with partners in Portugal and Germany.
I commend MEUSAC for its work when it comes to European funds. Since November 2008, it has supported 363 projects. The beneficiaries that were aided by MEUSAC with project applications have been granted €39 million in European funds. A real success story we can all be proud of.
Europe is changing, and this is an exciting time for Malta. We are no longer a new Member State, no longer merely a recipient of benefits. Our presence in Brussels is established, and with that comes a responsibility.
There is a responsibility on all of us as citizens to play an active role in shaping the future of Europe. Thanks to MEUSAC, Maltese entities can compete with their European counterparts when it comes to accessing funds and engaging and connecting our citizens to the EU, and this should lead towards Malta maximising its influence in the European Union.
I am an optimist and a Europtimist. I like to see every challenge as an opportunity. This is why I am determined to ensure that this government will continue to invest and strengthen MEUSAC.
I was delighted to able to secure an increase in its budget this year, and there is now a greater synergy between MEUSAC, the EU Funds Managing Authority and my Secretariat. We are all determined to work together to meet future challenges.
Aaron Farrugia is the Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue.
Giovanni Bonello’s series of articles ‘Misunderstanding the Constitution’ will resume next week.