Programming of European Funds for Malta 2014 – 2020 GRTU highlights the priorities for its members and calls for improvements in the administration of EU funds GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs has replied to the public consultation on the ‘Programming of European Funds for Malta 2014-2020’ with a comprehensive document which outlined the priorities expressed by its members and also how decisive improvements were needed in the way funds were administered. This follows an intensive internal consultation carried out with GRTU members where two consultation meetings were held, one in Malta and one in Gozo, where GRTU explained Government’s vision and guidelines as outlined in the public consultation document and gathered feedback from members. The majority of enterprises present for the consultation expressed their disappointment at some stage or another when having touched with funds and incentives in the past. Enterprises still have a very negative perception of EU funds and for many their experiences at one point or another has turned sour. In order to make serious improvements to the next programming period that will run for 7 years, GRTU has called for greater assistance and specialized helpdesks to assist enterprises in accessing funds and incentives, reduction of bureaucracy and a simplification exercise across the board, greater transparency and accountability with regards to the why projects are approved or refused and having the criteria clearly outlined in black on white and not having to depend on the whims of an adjudicator. GRTU also called for the authorities and those responsible to adhere to set deadlines for issuing reimbursements and holding appeals, where required. We have welcomed Government’s approach in involving the private sector, something mentioned throughout the consultation document. GRTU has requested a mix of financial instruments including grants, loan guarantees and loans with an advantageous interest rate, etc… to cater for the various needs of enterprises. Enterprises want more assistance and incentives related to e-commerce and exports. We want basic schemes targeted at the private sector related to subsidised employment and training and investment in upgrading machinery and purchasing of renewable energy mechanisms to be made permanent as enterprises cannot time their investment needs with the short period during which schemes are made available. GRTU and its members also called for assistance for enterprises to restructure and upgrade to required or international standards. GRTU supported Government’s intention to alleviate the problem of traffic congestion by assisting alternative means of transport including transport by sea and called to include the problem of parking in the strategy as well as incentivise the use and conversion of empty buildings into accommodation facilities, child and elderly care centres and offices, which could boost our localities and alleviate traffic in the traditional centres. GRTU called for increased assistance for start-ups and helping business ideas to materialise. We called on more incentives for enterprises to invest in locally produced products of high quality, supporting investments in agri-tourism and supporting the crafts sector and the restructuring of crafts centres. Gozo enterprises members of GRTU asked for funds to go to increased transport facilities between the two islands as well as special assistance that would facilitate and alleviate the cost of transport of goods and services. It was however emphasized that these were just incentives aimed at mitigating the current situation which should be resolved with a permanent link between Malta and Gozo in the future.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:27:07 +0000
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