Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529778
5 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 NOVEMBER 2024 PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT OF CALLS FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS UNDER European Social Fund + 2021-2027 The Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry responsible for European Funds would like to pre-announce the following calls for project proposals under the Priority and Specific Objectives (ESO) listed below. Priority 2: Fostering Active Inclusion for All Specific Objective: 4.8. Active inclusion and employability. Note: This call shall be open for social partners, Non-Governmental Organisations and voluntary organisations. Specific Objective: 4.11. Equal access to quality social and healthcare services. Note: This call shall be open for social partners, Non-Governmental Organisations and voluntary organisations. The actual launch of these calls, together with the Application Form and supplementary documentation, will be published in January 2025 and are expected to close in April 2025. Prospective Applicants are encouraged to refer to the ESF+ Programme available on https://fondi.eu/programme/european-social-fund-plus/. Details on the information sessions which will be held in relation to these calls will be provided with the call announcement. church.mt TENDER FOR THE SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, TESTING, COMMISSIONING AND MAINTENANCE OF A NEW EXTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR ST HELEN'S BASILICA, BIRKIRKARA The Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta will receive proposals for the supply and installation of new exterior lighting for St Helen's Parish Church, Birkirkara. Interested parties may submit requests for the tender documents and further information by sending an email to birkirkara.se.tender@maltadiocese.org by not later than 6th December at 11:00hrs. Submissions should be made in person at the Archbishop's Curia, St Calcedonius Square, Floriana, Malta, Mondays to Fridays between 08:00hrs and 17:00hrs, in a sealed envelope clearly marked 'Birkirkara Tender', by not later than Thursday 12th December 2024 at 11:00hrs. A tender box will be provided for this purpose. Only proposals received through this tender box will be considered. The bidders will be informed in writing in due course whether their proposal was selected or not. The right is reserved to refuse any proposal, even the most advantageous one. Late submissions will not be considered. resolve Malta's challenges. "This government has reached new heights of corruption, sleaze, and environmental deg- radation, but replacing the PL with the PN will not change the system," he replied when asked whether his party's success might undermine the prospect of a change in government. Cassola said he also sees the new party as a catalyst for di- alogue, potentially working with major parties to tackle the country's structural prob- lems. "No political party alone can bring about the meaningful change the country deserves. Our party could help break the 60-year-old 'us versus them' mould and push for meritocra- cy, transparency, and account- ability," Cassola said. Remarkably, he also placed the onus on the major parties when discussing possible coa- litions. "The traditional parties must reach out to those who have lost faith in the system, which has failed the country so badly, and be open to meaning- ful dialogue with them." Cassola also expressed open- ness to collaborate with other third-party activists, including ADPD and NGOs with similar values. "The urgency of Mal- ta's situation means egos must take second place. Real change should come to the forefront for the sake of the country," he said, proposing a broad coalition with other like-minded activists and third parties as a way to over- come the limitations imposed by Malta's electoral system. Addressing financial trust One major obstacle facing third parties is public scepti- cism regarding their ability to manage the country's financ- es – a point underscored by the findings of a MaltaToday budget survey that showed how only 0.7% of respondents trust third parties with running the country's finances. Cassola ac- knowledged the challenge. He argued that a coalition govern- ment, where his party could in- fluence fiscal policy, would be the best path forward. "It is evident that, in such an event, the financial portfo- lio should go to the party and person with the most experi- ence in this area. However, our eventual party would contrib- ute to influencing the finance minister's policies by ensuring that economic issues are not decided exclusively on pure monetary gain. Instead, the so- cial and environmental dimen- sions should play a significant role in shaping any financial policy." Arnold Cassola has contested the last two European Parliament elections and the 2022 general election as an independent