Two projects involving Maltese partners, including one to be implemented by the Ministry for Gozo, have been selected for funding under the first call for project proposals of the Interreg Europe Programme, announced Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds Ian Borg.

Dr Borg said that one of the projects, which is entitled Destination SME’s and which will be implemented by the Ministry for Gozo, aims at improving public policies dedicated to the support of tourist SMEs and their competitiveness through the creation of a management strategy of the territories addresses by means of this project. The share of the Maltese partner in this project amounts to €180,900.

The second project is entitled ZEROCO2 and it will be implemented by the Local Council Association. The budgetary allocation for the Maltese partner amounts to €188,400. This project focuses on the energy performances of buildings; in this regard, it intends to design state-of-the-art policies promoting near zero CO2 emission buildings.

This project will also combine different technologies and energy efficiency sources, contributing towards the EU energy efficiency targets.

Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg explained that the second call for project proposals under this programme is envisaged to open on the 5th of April and will remain open until the 13th of May 2016.

Applications may be received from public authorities, bodies governed by public law and private non profit bodies operating in the Programme’s eligible area.

Public bodies and bodies governed by public law from all 28 European member states are eligible for a co-financing rate of 85%, whereas private non-profit bodies may receive 75% co-financing, outlined Dr Borg.

The second call for proposals also focuses on interregional cooperation projects i.e. ‘classic’ interregional cooperation projects which may be compared to those funded under the first call for project proposals.

Applicants are invited to submit their project application under one of the specific objectives listed below:

a. Strengthening research, technological development and innovation;

b. Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs;

c. Supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy in all sectors and

d. Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency.

Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg encouraged any prospective applicants to go through the application pack and to start the drafting process in connection with the preparatory work required for this call.

File Photograph: MGOZ/George Scerri

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