News • 8 June 2003

How to be an EU fund junky

There are many phrases to describe the Maltese character. Many of which are appropriate or very close to the mark.

Throughout the campaign for Europe the money question was something that surfaced and resurfaced. What did not surface were the extra funds that do not configure with the Lm90 odd million.

Money has always been an emotive issue.

Now, it has come back to haunt us through private consultants who are offering their ‘unique’ advice on how clients could sink their hands into funds.

Sooner, rather than later we will be seeing conferences at the lucrative participation fee of Lm70 or a Lm100 on how to become a EU fund junky.

The sharks are eyeing the opportunity of serving as the pros on getting EU funds; it is, in our view one good way of making some money. Good luck to them.

But it is the institutions funded by the Maltese taxpayer that should take up this challenge independently.

Getting funds from the EU is no easy matter, but those who falsely give the impression that one gets funded for one’s private business or private project is wrong.

It was rather sad to see that the European delegation has not looked at the wider implications of EU funding in Malta.

The criterion should be for Maltese sectors to attain better adherence.

It is not the sourcing of EU funds that one should be promoting, but the process of converting ideas that promote quality and attaining standards in the shortest time possible.

If private companies are led to believe that they can make more money by simply accessing EU funds, then they are being led down the wrong route.

If local government and non-profit making organisations are planning on building on what they have started, and realise that their dreams can fall within the vision of many of the policies of EU agencies, then yes - we are getting somewhere. Private companies who dip their stick in the tendering process will follow later, but they should never be in the front line of EU funding.

Once again, as was the case in the drawing up of reports and superficial presentations on EU membership, the people who are rallying for the ‘EU fund’ rush are very much the same bunch.

This newspaper has not taken up the crusade for Europe with the intention of seeing that we mess up our formative years.

Neither are we willing to back initiatives that only serve the purpose of incrementing personal profits.

We need professionals who have the energy and vision of pointing out to local government and organisations the possibilities available to them.

Other considerations should be secondary.