EU subsidies

I refer to the article “Producers claim Lm328,000 in overdue EU subsidies” carried on this newspaper last week. I would like to correct few inaccuracies in the said article.
It should be noted in the first instance that such a mechanism was not in existence prior to Malta’s accession. No such refunds were provided by the then Ministry for Agriculture.
Secondly, applicants by agri-processors need to be strictly checked. Furthermore, meetings with applicants and verifications with Customs had to be effected and payments could not be made without such verification. This explains why the process took some time. Also a number of applications did not conform to procedures and had to be rectified, and this too required some time.
I would also like to add that, given that applications by private entities are of a confidential nature, the paying agency cannot provide details of applications. However, I can confirm that the amounts of “overdue EU subsidies” published last week are incorrect.
Finally, all efforts have been made in order to ensure compliance to the regulations. It transpires that throughout this process verifications were carried out to ensure conformity to such regulations.

Darrell Pace
Communications Co-Ordinating Officer
Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs

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BICAL depositors

Now that the Budget is close, how about we people with the last 20 per cent in BICAL money get paid at last? We have been promised many times by the Prime Minister that we would get our final settlement since he was asked in Parliament by both sides of the House. I hope somebody thinks of us at last.

Nazzareno Zammit
Zurrieq