Since Malta joined the European Union in 2004, European funds have served as a major contributor towards enhancing the country's socio-economic infrastructure. Funds were also directed towards competitiveness and the development of human capital with a view to provide a better quality of life for all Maltese citizens.
In the upcoming seven years (2014-2020), Malta will have the opportunity to benefit from funding under the European Structural and Investments Funds, covering European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), Cohesion Fund (CF), European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). These funds will be instrumental to foster the right environment for economic growth, job creation, technological development, productivity, a higher standard of living and a more inclusive society which will enable Malta to reach its targets at national and EU level.
Within this context, Government is presenting its vision for the 2014-2020 programming period through the Partnership Agreement for Malta 2014-2020, in line with Malta's priorities and the Europe 2020 targets. The Partnership Agreement is the overarching strategy delineating the main areas of intervention envisaged under the European Structural and Investment Funds.
The Partnership Agreement focuses on 3 funding priorities:
Funding Priority 1: Fostering competitiveness through innovation and the creation of a business friendly environment
Investment within this priority focuses on the following four thematic areas:
Research, Technological Development and Innovation (RTDI)
Information Communication Technologies (ICT)
Competitiveness of SMEs (including Agriculture and Fisheries)
Low Carbon (Renewable Energy Use and Energy Efficiency in SMEs)
Funding Priority 2: Sustaining an environmentally friendly and resource efficient economy
Investment within this priority focuses on the following four thematic areas:
Low Carbon
Climate Change, Risk Prevention and Management
Environment and Resource Efficiency
Sustainable Transport
Funding Priority 3: Creating Opportunities through investment in human capital and improving health and well-being
Investment within this priority focuses on the following four thematic areas:
Employment and labour mobility
Social Inclusion and Combating Poverty
Education and Training
Institutional Capacity and Public Administration
The approved Partnership Agreement for Malta 2014-2020
may be found
here.