An €84m EU-funded call for projects strengthening territorial cooperation in the Mediterranean

Local organisations are being offered the possibility to avail of €84m under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme, funded by the European Union.

This was announced by the Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue Dr Aaron Farrugia, who announced the first call for proposals for standard projects to benefit from the European Neighbourhood Policy, Cooperating across borders in the Mediterranean programme. The rationale behind the proposals is to strengthen relations between EU member states and their neighbouring Mediterranean countries, with the sharing of good practices, success stories and knowledge between 12 other countries.

Farrugia explained that this programme, covering 2014-2020, provides opportunities to turn the Mediterranean into the most vibrant region in the world in the following areas: • Business and SMEs development, through support to startup enterprises and the enhancement of Euro-Mediterranean value chains and clusters; • Support to education, research, technological development and innovation, with focus on technological transfer, commercialization of research results and links between industry and research; • Promotion of social inclusion and the fight against poverty, addressing the NEETS category (Not in Education, Employment or Training), as well as actors from the social and solidarity economy; • Environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation, including efficiency in water, waste and energy management, as well as conservation of coastal areas. The Parliamentary Secretary stated that these objectives fit well with Malta’s national priorities and pledged the full support and commitment of the Maltese government towards this programme by ensuring that all policy decisions substantiated by budget measures shall be put in practice to encourage the active participation of Maltese entities in a holistic and coordinated approach.

Farrugia met the Managing Authority, the Joint Secretariat, the Valencia Branch Office and the Funds and Programmes Division, which will be managing and ensuring the success of this programme, which has a total budget of €209m.

The eligible countries in this programme are Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.