€12 million of EU Funds aimed at supporting agri-environmental-climate objectives announced, with around 600 beneficiaries expected to benefit.
Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds Ian Borg has today announced the pre-launch of a measure aimed at supporting agri-environment-climate objectives under the Rural Development Programme.
Support under this operation will include the restoration of habitats and landscapes, soil conservation and water management where there is no significant economic return to a farmer, or other rural business from such action.
Actions may also include management plans, and works, establishing, restoring, or reinstating infrastructure needed for management of habitats. This includes rubble wall establishment or restoration, terracing, and soil conservation measures as well as corbelled stone huts.
Beneficiaries can include farmers, businesses, public entities and non-profit organisations.
Parliamentary Secretary Borg said that this sub-measure (M4.4 of the RDP) has an allocation of €12 million, and it is expected that around 600 beneficiaries will receive grants that can reach up to €150,000, with an aid intensity of at least 50%.
This measure will be complementing the two measures launched earlier this year, where €18 million have been committed for farmers working agricultural land to specific agricultural practices that respect the environment.
In order to ensure maximum transparency and an even-level playing field for all, potential beneficiaries are being given a two month pre-launch period so they can prepare adequately for submission of their project proposals.
Beneficiaries will be selected through a competitive procedure and applications will be received in the first weeks of December 2016. An open rolling-call system will be adopted with periodical budgeting and selection stages.
Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg said that it is expected that this Rural Development measure, which is managed by the Managing Authority within the Funds and Programmes Division, Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, will generate significant interest within the sector, "and this augurs well for the agricultural sector, biodiversity and the rural development across the island," he said.
More information can be found on www.eufunds.gov.mt [1] or email to rdd.meaim@gov.mt
Photograph: DOI/Pierre Sammut