The role of the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division (PPCD) within the Office of the Prime Minister  and the 18-month Programme of the Presidency of the Council of the EU were discussed during the meeting of the Core Group of  MEUSAC held on 29 January.

 

Presentations were delivered by Ms Marlene Bonnici, PPCD Director General, and Mr Joseph Fenech, EU Affairs Director within PPCD, respectively.

 

The role of PPCD in managing EU funded projects

The role of the PPCD, established in 2001, is that of ensuring the  efficient  management  of European  Union and bilateral  funding programmes by providing effective coordination across all stakeholders. PPCD is also the Managing Authority for EU Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, among other programmes. Ms Bonnici explained her Department’s responsibilities which include the management of a substantial number of EU-funded programmes.  She added that the PPCD is also responsible for the coordination of Malta’s position and that of the inter-ministerial meetings with regard to the EU’s Cohesion Policy.

 

Programmes managed by the PPCD include:

• Structural Funds (2004-2006);
• Cohesion Funds (2004-2006) and (2007-2013);
• INTERREG (2004-2006) – 6 programmes;
• EQUAL (2004-2006);
• European Territorial Cooperation – 6 programmes;
• European Globalisation Fund;
• Solidarity Fund (in the case of natural disasters).

 

Ms Bonnici stated that since 2001, PPCD has managed more than €1.3 billion in EU funds.  This has been the result of the work of the Directorate which includes the everyday management of funds,  the selection of the projects and the monitoring system used by PPCD throughout the realisation of the projects.  At present, PPCD is already working on the funding programmes beyond 2014.

 

Interventions by Core Group members included questions as to what information is available for NGOs that would like to benefit from EU funds; how the funds allocated to Malta are being distributed and utilised; and the time-frames for the selected projects to materialise.

 

The 18-month Programme of the Council Presidency

In his presentation, Mr Joseph Fenech explained in detail the 18-month programme prepared by the three Member States which will be holding the Council Presidency in the next eighteen months.  He said that this is the first joint programme since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009.  Mr Fenech elaborated on the priorities of Spain, Belgium and Hungary to act collectively, with determination and in continuity throughout their presidency.

One of the aims of the Programme, highlighted in the presentation is the effort of the EU to get closer to the citizens and the promotion of policies from which citizens can benefit directly.  Mr Fenech said that in this regard, the Maltese Government has taken a number of initiatives in relation to the priorities included in the 18-month Programme.  The Government looks forward to its active involvement in the  discussions which will ensue from the implementation of the programme.  Mr Fenech also underlined the Government’s backing of the initiatives taken by the European Commission and the work of the Simplification Task Force.  This work already started in 2009 and should be continued in the light of the discussions of the regulatory framework after 2013.

 

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