€194 million in EU funds to be used for sustainable development
Some €194 million in European funds will be invested in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development and energy, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, Chris Bonett said on Monday.
The Cohesion Fund provides support to EU member states with a view to strengthening the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the EU.
Investment from the cohesion fund will be directed towards promoting more sustainable urban mobility, the transition to a carbonneutral and circular economy, infrastructure projects for roads and ports known as TEN-T, and the access to and sustainable management of water.
Bonett announced that €7 million will go towards increasing the amount of charging points for electric vehicles and related infrastructure throughout Malta and Gozo.
This investment will conform to a comprehensive plan related to the transition towards carbon-neutral transporta
tion. The fund is in line with the Ecological Tax Initiative, as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which aims to introduce new and sustainable measures for transport, such as alternative fuels and the use of electric vehicles.
Bonett said that the Cohe
sion Fund is instrumental in ensuring that the country continues making more sustainable investments.
“For this government, sustainability doesn’t only mean more green and open spaces but also takes into account recycling and waste management, cleaner energy, and cleaner transport. We will address all aspects in this operational program to make Malta more sustainable and we will take pains to implement more European-funded projects that make a difference in the country,” Bonett said.