This year's annual conference for Gozo Regional Councillors devoted a particular session on how the Gozitan Local Councils can be effective promoters of European Union programmes and funding opportunities.  Officials from Forum Malta fl-Ewropa were invited to address this session. Ronald Mizzi and Julian Micallef gave an overview on Gozo's particular circumstances and on how these were reflected during EU membership negotiations. Gozo's three-year experience as an island-region in the EU was also analysed, with particular reference to the Local Councils' experience with EU funding. Various examples were referred to. These included the Wied il-Mielah rehabilitation project carried out by the Gharb Local Council, a training programme for the judiciary organised by the Nadur Local Council, as well as various youth exchanges and town-twinning agreements.

These initiatives are proof of the potential that Local Councils have in tapping EU funds and using them to create opportunities and benefits for their residents. Local Councils should continue in their quest to tap into EU funding, particularly now that a new programming period brimming with new funding opportunities has just started. The current financial period will last until 2013. Local Councils were also encouraged to pool their resources and apply jointly for projects, especially those of a larger scale.