Executive Vice-President Fitto is in Malta to discuss EU cohesion policy

Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, is in Malta on 26 and 27 March to discuss the implementation of EU cohesion policy and to engage with national authorities on key priorities.

During the visit, he is meeting Prime Minister Robert Abela and is holding talks with Minister for EU Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri, and Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli. Discussions centre on the implementation and future of cohesion policy, as well as on the forthcoming EU Strategy for Islands. The visit is providing an opportunity to exchange views on how cohesion policy is being implemented in Malta and how it can continue to support investment and development in the years ahead. “This visit to Malta highlights the importance of working together towards a more competitive and resilient Europe. Strategic EU-funded projects in Malta and Gozo are making a concrete contribution to these objectives while strengthening cohesion across the European Union,” Executive Vice-President Fitto says. 

The Executive Vice-President is also visiting a number of EU-funded projects to see firsthand their implementation in Malta and Gozo. These include the site of the second electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily, which is set to double the existing electricity capacity, bringing substantial benefits to citizens and businesses. “The second electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily is a flagship project and the largest EU-funded cohesion policy investment in Malta to date. The project will be further supported through the mid-term review of cohesion policy, and it will strengthen energy security while supporting the uptake of renewables and increased electrification” Executive Vice-President Fitto says. In Gozo, he is visiting the reverse osmosis plant at Ħondoq ir-Rummien, which ensures water self-sufficiency for the island, as well as the restored Citadel, a historical landmark renovated with the support of EU cohesion policy.