Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471309
NEWS 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JUNE 2022 Operational Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Advert part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund Co-financing rate: Public Eligible (80% European Union; 20% National Funds) ANNOUNCEMENT – 22 nd June 2022 Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Open Rolling Calls – Cut-off dates Launch Call 1 SME Growth Grant Scheme (2 nd Issue) Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and Lands (MEFL), designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 – 2020, would like to announce the next cut-off dates for the submission of applications under the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes initiative. The cut-off dates for the following open Calls until end September 2022 are set at noon of the following dates: • Call 2 - e-Commerce Grant Scheme • Call 3 - Start-up Investment Grant Scheme • Call 2 - SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme • Call 1 - SME Internationalisation Grant Scheme • Call 2 - SME Consultancy Services Grant Scheme 30 June 2022 29 July 2022 31 August 2022 30 September 2022 In addition to the above, the following open Calls have mid-monthly cut-off dates set at noon of the following dates: • Call 2 - e-Commerce Grant Scheme • Call 2 - SME Consultancy Services Grant Scheme 15 July 2022 12 August 2022 16 September 2022 The Measures and Support Division would also like to announce the launch of Call 1 SME Growth Grant Scheme (2 nd Issue). Applications for this scheme shall open on 1 July 2022. The cut-off dates for this Call until end September 2022 are set at noon of the following dates: • Call 1 SME Growth Grant Scheme (2 nd Issue) 29 July 2022 31 August 2022 30 September 2022 Further information on these calls including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt or by contacting the Measures and Support Division on msd.eufunds@gov.mt or 2555 2635. INFLATION rose to 6% in May on the back of higher housing and food prices, the Retail Price Index published today shows. Figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that the annual rate for housing stood at 15.5% and that for food at 9.9%. The housing index includes rent, mate- rials used for house maintenance and mainte- nance services. May's inflation increase is a continuation of previous months. The 12-month moving aver- age rate for the month of May stands at 3.3%, the highest it has been in three years. The RPI is used as a benchmark to set the an- nual statury cost of living wage increase. A MaltaToday survey in June showed that concerns over rising food prices has more than doubled. The findings show that 28.1% of people con- sider inflation and higher food prices as their principal worry. This is more than double the number of people who indicated inflation as a main concern in March and is a reflection of the exorbitant price rises across the board. Retail Price Index sees inflation rise to 6% in May House maintenance services and goods registered the highest annual inflation rate in May KARL AZZOPARDI FORMER prime minister Joseph Muscat is being touted to head the Malta Professional Football Clubs Association after his name was floated by several clubs. The association was formed last year to represent premier league clubs and is autonomous from the Malta Football Association. It comprises 14 clubs from Malta's top-tier football league. Members are meeting on Tues- day afternoon to discuss Muscat's prospective appointment to head the association after Santa Luci- ja FC president Robert Micallef stepped down from the post re- cently. Sources who spoke to this newspaper said around two- thirds of the clubs are in favour of the appointment, while the rest have voiced their concern over Muscat's political baggage and controversial past. Proponents of Muscat have argued that he would help elevate the MPFCA's profile to the next level thanks to his contacts, negotiation skills and good relations with the MFA. According to reports by the Times of Malta and NET's Re- play, Muscat is leading the race to replace the outgoing chairperson. MPFCA members want to move away from having the as- sociation chaired by a club pres- ident and instead appoint some- one external to the clubs. Sources said Muscat's name has been informally discussed and he has been sounded out. This evening's meeting will seek approval for a formal approach to be made. The association looks to hive off responsibility for running the premier league from the MFA, in order to create a model similar to that in Italy and England among others. Muscat stepped down from prime minister in January 2020 after his right-hand man, Keith Schembri, was implicated in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by alleged mas- termind Yorgen Fenech. The former prime minister is not alien to sport and football in particular. In his final speech to Labour supporters, he had ex- pressed his interest in going into the sports sector. Muscat, an avid AC Milan sup- porter, had said the sector is very close to his heart, and wants to "contribute towards improving it." He said that he will be working on a project which has a vision of seeing young Maltese people achieving international success in sport. "I look forward to a time when national pride in sports is recognised by all," he had said in 2020. Soon after, Muscat was also tipped to take a Maltese team into the Italian 'third division' league Serie C, a plan formulated by the MFA. The plan was to create a Mal- tese football team with at least 10 Maltese nationals within its ranks to compete in the professional Italian league at Serie C level. MFA President Bjorn Vassallo had openly declared his intention to create two teams that will be playing in Italian football. The second team would be an U-19 selection that will compete in the Campionato Nazionale Dante Berretti and will have around 20 young Maltese players in the squad. However, these plans were scuppered when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Football clubs to decide whether Joseph Muscat should head their association