The advantages of EU funds

Most people do not directly access EU funds but I believe many of them benefit from them. Before Malta joined the EU, new roads had been built, so I will not go into this subject. However, several educational activities are held without requiring any payment up front which would not have been possible before. Many young people benefit just by investing their time and efforts in educational activities, some of which are open to all. Several such activates have been held by Junior Chamber International Malta under the leadership of current President Rachel Cassar and her committee, mainly sponsored through EU Funds and the collaboration of several sponsors such as Agenzija Zghazagh. I would like to say well done for offering training opportunities, mostly to young people but to others as well, in public speaking, debating, and indirectly networking, team building... all useful tools for those involved in voluntary organisations as well as for those already in business or venturing in with start-ups!

Therefore, I see this as a sterling opportunity for those keen on investing their time and efforts in lucrative pursuits the Parliamentary Secretariat for EU Funds and Social Dialogue information session on the first Thursday afternoon of September. This provides an opportunity to everyone to get on this conveyor belt which helps the economy, as demonstrated through research that a country’s success in part is attributable to SMEs and Start-ups.

I have been positively surprised that non EU nationals, be they Egyptians, Chinese, and others are amazed at the opportunities which EU Funds make available, considering that some of them who attend, be it one off lectures or courses, have to pay hefty sums. It is also healthy that NGOs such as Junior Chamber International Malta can whet the appetite for more intense courses on offer commercially (such as those by foreign university campuses) and enable the young and not so young to embark on commerce. After all commerce is about service when all is said and done. C. Grech Sliema