Malta's armed forces are to receive a new €34 million offshore patrol vessel and a €7.5 million upgrade to an existing boat, EU Funds Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg said today.
The projects, which will be 75 per cent funded through the European Union, are part of a €43 million project aimed at "strengthening police in fighting criminality and managing risk," the EU Funds secretariat said in a statement.
The 2014-2020 Internal Security Funds programme will also see Armed Forces receive an EOD/IEDD low emission response vehicle complete with robot and ancillary equipment valued at approximately €1.8 million.
A further €1.2 million has been allocated to the police force for "Activities of Forced Return Multi Annual Programme 2014-2020 financed through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020," the secretariat said.
Dr Borg said that Malta would be investing around €100 million under the Internal Security Fund, which aims to alleviate internal security and border controls.