€2.1m EU funding for environmental projects

The environment will receive an injection of €2.1 million after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority had 10 projects approved for EU funding last month.

A significant part of the money will come under the EU's "Transition Facility" fund, aimed at providing technical assistance and capacity building in the new member states.

Mepa will also be receiving money through four projects financed under a programme entitled "Interreg 3C" which is aimed at transnational cooperation.

In addition, Mepa will receive Structural Funds (European Regional Development Fund) to finance two projects related to air quality and nature protection.

Mepa will also be given a number of smaller grants through the UK Financial Assistance Programme.

Mepa said that participation in such international projects would not only help it increase its capacity to ensure compliance with the EU's environmental legislation, but would also help to assert Malta's place in the European arena in the field of environment.

In fact, Mepa's participation in a number of interrogational and transnational networks meant that the country was now increasingly taking proactive steps to contribute to the shaping of European policies and approaches to environmental development, Mepa said in a statement.

Mepa added that on the domestic front, its participation in the Transitional Facility Programme would improve its capacity to raise awareness and enforce environmental legislation, to implement the polluter pays principle, to manage protected areas and to establish a successful national air monitoring programme.

Mepa's bids for the European Regional Development Fund will help the organisation acquire vital and costly air monitoring equipment, as well as to carry out important marine biodiversity studies.

Following the approval of UK financial assistance grants, Mepa's staff will also benefit from the traineeships in the fields of waste management, biodiversity research and GMO inspections.

In all, Mepa is participating or has applied for money for over 50 internationally co-financed projects.

The total value of these projects exceeds x35 million, with Mepa's share being well over x5 million. Further proposals are currently in development.

"Successful bids for funds require a specialised knowledge of funding programmes and of both European and national priorities in the environmental field," Godwin Cassar, Mepa's director general said, adding that Mepa staff had been extremely enthusiastic even in the face of very tight deadlines and significant pressure.

He added that Malta must ensure that European funds were utilised in the best possible way.

He also highlighted the fact that Mepa now needed to build its human resource capacity to be able to manage the administration of the newly acquired funds.