Servizzi Ewropej f’Malta (SEM) organised a networking event bringing together organisations and national Managing Authorities and Contact Points of EU funding programmes to provide information to prospective applicants on EU funding opportunities, giving particular focus for the opportunities that will be available in 2022.
Participants in the event hailed from local councils, NGOs, public entities and schools who are interested in applying for EU funds for their projects. During the event, participants were briefed on five main EU-funds programmes – Erasmus+; European Solidarity Corps; Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme; LIFE Programme, and; Interreg Euro-MED Programme.
Officials from SEM and from Managing Authorities and Contact Points of these funding programmes, together with a number of past EU funding beneficiaries were present to assist participating organisations in their questions related to the programmes of their interest.
Addressing the participants, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela spoke about the fact that this networking event serves as unique opportunity to help one know better what these funding opportunities will be, to help one develop one’s ideas into competitive project proposals which are ultimately selected for funding.
The Minister highlighted that “networking can be an excellent source of new perspectives and ideas, and that participants that part-take in EU funded projects grow as individuals, gain new skills, and meet new people which results in new opportunities. Therefore, he encouraged the participants to use this opportunity to network not only with SEM and the other Managing Authorities and Contact Points but also amongst themselves as organisations and Local Councils, coming from different backgrounds, as this may help you create strong partnerships and collaborations which produce stronger projects.
Minister Abela mentioned the excellent services offered by SEM to various entities such as Government entities, local councils, NGOs and schools, where in 2021 SEM provided its assistance in the submission of 80 application forms. The Agency is also providing its assistance for the implementation of another 14 projects. “SEM can assist local entities to identify relevant funding opportunities, develop project ideas, complete the application form and when selected for funding, SEM can also provide assistance with the implementation of the project” concluded the Minister.
SEM CEO, Mandy Falzon, explained how SEM offers a personalised and professional service to local councils, NGOs and public entities to identify the right EU funding opportunities and to re-shape ideas EU funding programmes that can finance their project ideas to make them more in line with the priorities of over 30 different EU funding programmes. Ms Falzon also referred to the new service introduced earlier this year, to respond to the needs of service users. SEM is now also offering free project implementation support service by providing assistance to organisations throughout the implementation of their EU funded projects. “We do this, because we do not only believe in the potential of ideas of organisations but because we want the same ideas to be transformed into real outcomes and projects which are managed successfully and which reach the intended objectives”, Ms Falzon concluded.
Source: Government of Malta