Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543996
GOZITANS should be interested in what is hap- pening at Brussels level, according to PN MEP Pe- ter Agius, who was speaking to GozoToday about proposed changes to EU funding. Agius said the changes would bring together several existing funding streams, including cohesion, agriculture and so- cial funds, into a single frame- work known as National and Regional Programmes (NRPs). U n d e r this model, countries would operate through one pro- gramme, with the possibility of dividing funds at a regional level depending on how sys- tems are set up. He argued that Gozo should be given a clearer role with- in the new system, including more autonomy over how funding is used. Agius also linked the fund- ing discussion to wider issues of infrastructure and decision making on the island. "When I look at the Mgarr Harbour, I think it's too small, if we want Gozo to increase its ambitions," he said. He added that recent plans to introduce larger vessels had raised practical concerns among residents. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY 20 MARCH 2026 • ISSUE 088 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY gozotoday LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt €1.00 CONTINUES PAGE 5 Brussels discussions of interest to Gozitans Gozo airfield tender to be issued within weeks CONTINUES PAGE 5 A tender for the first phase of a planned airfield in Gozo is set to be issued in the coming weeks, marking a key step in efforts to improve the island's connectivity and support new economic activity. The project will begin with the levelling of the site for the proposed rural airfield, which is intended to intro- duce an additional transport link for Gozo and create op- portunities in sectors such as aviation training, drone testing and skydiving. The development forms part of the Malta Vision 2050 strat- egy. Gozitans should be interested in in discusions taking place in Brussels, Peter Agius tells GozoToday, saying the changes could affect how the island manages investment and local priorities Mgarr Harbour, Gozo. Inset: Nationalist Party MEP Peter Agius