Participants in a debate on the representation of Gozo at EU level spoke about the need to tap into EU funds to make the most of Gozo’s unique characteristics, offer the best possible service to visitors and improve the island’s attractiveness as a place to do business.

The debate, entitled ‘Europe for Gozo,’ was held at the Grand Hotel in Mgarr, Gozo and was organised by the European Parliament Information Office in Malta in collaboration with the Ministry of Gozo, the Gozo Business Chamber, the Gozo Tourism Association and Sir M.A. Refalo Post-Secondary School.

Joseph Cuschieri, who is a substitute member on the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development, noted that Gozo’s characteristics are unique, particularly in terms of the environment, culture and hospitality, and he stressed the importance of offering the best services to visitors, foreign and Maltese alike. “Everything depends on how we can make the best use of EU funds to improve the services on this island,” he said, referring to the way EU funds were used for the construction of the Mgarr and Cirkewwa terminals – projects that were considered top priorities due to the island’s double insularity.

Claudette Abela Baldacchino said Gozo’s double insularity can be turned into an advantage. Gozo’s particular environmental and socio-cultural characteristics offer added value and there is huge potential to attract certain types of tourists; Gozo is ideal for agrotourism for instance, and it might be a good idea to look into the potential of other niches such as health tourism, said Mrs Abela Baldacchino, adding that there was the need to focus on areas such as dive sites, marine parks and the cruise ship sector, among others.

Roberta Metsola stressed that Gozo deserves special treatment by the EU. She said the European Union must continue to support Gozo in reducing the disparities between its level of development and that of Malta. “Particular attention needs to be paid to those areas facing particular geographical issues, so as to improve Gozo’s attractiveness for companies and industries wanting to operate on the island and as a popular destination for tourists. This is an issue that requires constant work within every institution of the EU and is an area where all MEPs must work together in the national interest irrespective of partisan considerations.”

Michael Grech, president of the Gozo Business Chamber, mentioned in particular the issue of access to funds and the need to address this matter to ensure that funds are not lost. Referring to funds such as the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund, Mr Grech said the system is too bureaucratic, and small businesses cannot possibly afford to appoint a consultant to go through the entire application required as part of the funding process.

Joe Muscat, CEO of the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA), referred to tourism statistics which show that Gozo hosts about eight per cent of the tourists who visit Malta (this is in region of 1.4 million every year) and said that the GTA would like to see more gains in this respect. He spoke about the idea of establishing an opera season in Gozo in November, and organising cultural festivals, possibly also by tapping into EU funds. Mr Muscat said EU schemes and funds could also be used to address the issue of the lack of employees in the tourism industry in Gozo.

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