Labour MEP Professor Edward Scicluna today praised a European Parliament resolution on the need for EU policies and funding for mountain regions and islands, describing it as "a strong statement of intent that will protect Malta’s interests, particularly Gozo."

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on a Motion for Resolution that focused on the needs of mountainous regions, islands and sparsely populated areas, Prof Scicluna referred to the parliamentary question he had tabled in September 2009 about the value of Declaration 36 of Malta’s EU accession treaty, which promised that the Maltese government would guarantee EU regional structural funding for Gozo.

Prof Scicluna said, "It is highly regrettable that the government’s prized Declaration 36, aimed at safeguarding the economic future of Gozo, did not result in any funding ever materialising".

Prof Scicluna stated that Gozitans should be reassured that the resolution, which calls for a specific EU policy framework for islands, as well as funding safeguards under the EU financial framework and 2014-2020 budgetary cycle, would help secure the island’s financial future.

Prof Scicluna commented that, "I am pleased that this resolution calls for carefully devised EU programmes and policies that are specifically adapted to each island with a view to make them more competitive and capable of adjusting to the challenges facing them. This should lead to a more flexible use of Structural Funds and financing from the European Investment Bank."

Concluding, Prof Scicluna said, "Mountain regions and islands across the EU share common features that differentiate them from other regions of their own Member State. It is important therefore that small island Member States such as Malta should have regional development programmes that cater for their specific needs."

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