Joe Borg confirms Lm9m additional EU funding

Foreign Minister Dr Joe Borg yesterday confirmed the extra Lm9 million (EUR20 million) that Malta is expected to receive should it join the EU is certain and will be adopted by the EU Commission in the coming days.
The news of the extra Lm9 million was given by sources close to the European Commission, but Malta’s Foreign Minister yesterday confirmed the reports.
Borg told The Malta Financial and Business Times: "The Lm9 million is confirmed in the sense that the Commission has made a proposal for the money to be added to the Lm81.
"There is still the formality in that the Commission has to adopt the decision, but it is a forgone conclusion and the adoption must be concluded in the coming days and before 16 April."
Dr Borg confirmed the Maltese government had argued for the extra funding and that half the amount represents an equal share with the other acceding states and that half was divided according to population.
Total funding for the first three years of Malta’s EU membership now amounts to Lm90 million, while the extra funding secured by Malta will be used to develop and strengthen the public administration.