MEUSAC organised a seminar on EU funding opportunities for Local Councils on Wednesday, 3^rd February 2010 at the Civic Centre in Naxxar. The seminar, organised with the support of the PPCD and the CIP, was aimed at assisting Local Councils to identify those programmes that are most appropriate to their particular situation. It focused on:

Priority Axis 2: Product Development and Niche Market Development and Branding.
The objective of the call will be to upgrade the physical environment as part of Malta's tourism product.  The projects must clearly demonstrate the direct benefit of the intervention on the tourism industry within the locality.  The total budget allocated under this priority amounts to € 2 million.

Italy-Malta 2007-2013 Programme
With a budget of €15 million, €7,819,149 being allocated to Axis I and €7,180,851 allocated to Axis II, entities interested in applying under this Programme should be aware all project proposals must fall within one of the specific objectives AXIS I - Competitiveness: Research and Innovation; Sustainable Development, or AXIS II - Environment, Energy and Risk Prevention.

European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA)
The ELENA facility aims at helping cities and regions implement viable investment projects in the areas of energy efficiency; renewable energy sources and sustainable urban transport, replicating success stories from other parts of Europe. The technical assistance will be funded from the Intelligent Energy Europe II (IEE) programme.

With a budget of €15 million available for the first year of facility operation, ELENA support covers a share of the cost for technical support that is necessary to prepare, implement and finance the investment programme, such as feasibility and market studies, structuring of programmes, business plans, energy audits, preparation for tendering procedures - in short, everything necessary to make cities' and regions' sustainable energy projects ready for EIB funding.

The Seminar was also addressed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information, Dr. Chris Said and the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Dr. Mario de Marco.