Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Aaron Farrugia this evening said that negotiations on the EU budget are still at an early stage as only the first set of figures were published. He said that more will be known about the negotiations in the coming days.
Farrugia was replying to a parliamentary question by PN MP Robert Cutajar in light of a report published today by The Times of Malta, which stated that there will be a €179 million decrease in EU funds distributed to Malta. This was unveiled yesterday by the European Commission.
"According to the plans, Malta would receive roughly €673 million in cohesion funds between 2021 to 2027 - though that proposed figure is in reality closer to €597 million when funding is locked in at 2018 prices, without inflation factored in," the report on the Times of Malta read.
Farrugia argued that 2012 was a different time economically when compared to 2018 - both in terms of Malta's economic situation as well as the European Union's. The funds were initially awarded in 2012. "The EU today isn't what it was in 2012," he said, citing Brexit, and 'new challenges' in the form of 'security' and 'immigration'. "Malta's economy then isn't what it is today," he added.
PN MP Simon Busuttil then asked whether the Maltese government has a 'red line' for Malta.
Farrugia retorted that negotiations were still at an early stage and more information would be given at the right time.
Cohesion funds are given with the objective of helping EU's less thriving regions to catch up with other countries. Since then, Malta's economy has increased rapidly as one of the fastest-growing when compared to other EU member states.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2J2Jsmk
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