Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546635
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS LAUNCH OF CALL 18 FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS UNDER THE INTERNAL SECURITY FUND (ISF) 2021-2027 The Ministry responsible for European Funds would like to announce the following call under the Internal Security Fund (ISF): Specific Objective 3: supporting the strengthening of Member States' capabilities in relation to preventing and combating crime, terrorism and radicalisation, as well as managing security-related incidents, risks and crises, including through increased cooperation between public authorities, relevant Union bodies, offices or agencies, civil society and private partners in different Member States. The proposed call will contribute to the funding priority of 'enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement authorities and other key stakeholders to effectively prevent and tackle hate crime and hate speech, through the delivery of targeted training programmes and the establishment and improvement of mechanisms that facilitate the reporting and identification of victims.' The online application form, details of eligibility and indicator guideline notes are available https://fondi.eu/what- funding-is-available/ . Applicants are invited to submit complete application forms by not later than Friday, 12 th February 2027, noon. Prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to the ISF Programme available on https://fondi.eu/wp- content/uploads/2026/01/ISF-MT-Programme-v.3.0.pdf in order to check whether their proposals are eligible for funding through this call for project proposals. Any queries should be sent by e-mail on fondi.eu@gov.mt . A dedicated information session related to this call will be held later this year. Prospective applicants are encouraged to monitor the Fondi.eu website and official social media platforms for information regarding the date, time, and registration details. Maltese SMEs face hiring difficulties similar efforts. Shortages in manual and vocational jobs The survey suggests that inter- national recruitment is driven largely by shortages in manual and vocational occupations. Across the EU, employers recruiting from outside the bloc most frequently sought skilled construction work- ers, including bricklayers and car- penters. Food preparation and process- ing workers, cleaners and support staff, and transport operators were also among the most sought-after categories. Although highly skilled work- ers such as information technol- ogy professionals and engineers are also recruited internationally, these occupations account for a relatively small share of non-EU recruitment. The Eurobarometer also sheds light on the barriers businesses face when considering interna- tional recruitment. Among firms that have never hired workers from outside the EU, language requirements were the most commonly cited con- cern. However, companies that had actually gone through the recruitment process identified a different obstacle—lengthy and complex administrative proce- dures. Nearly one-third of SMEs that recruited third-country nationals said immigration and adminis- trative processes represented the biggest challenge. The finding suggests that firms often under- estimate the bureaucratic burden involved until they engage directly with the system. Nonetheless, Malta stands out as one of the few countries where businesses report relatively high awareness of support services re- lated to international recruitment. While nearly four out of five SMEs across the EU said they were unfamiliar with available support schemes, 45% of Maltese firms re- ported being aware of them. Private recruitment agencies were the most commonly used source of assistance, followed by national employment services. The reliance on private agen- cies was particularly pronounced among firms recruiting workers from outside the EU. Most employers report successful integration The survey also paints a gener- ally positive picture of what hap- pens after non-EU workers are re- cruited. A majority of employers reported that integration into the workplace is relatively straightfor- ward, while a similar proportion said retaining these workers does not present major difficulties. Where problems do arise, em- ployers most often cite insuffi- cient language proficiency and skills gaps. Even so, 61% of em- ployers said integration was easy, while 62% reported that retaining non-EU workers did not pose a significant challenge. The survey was conducted at the request of the European Com- mission between December 1 and 17, 2025 and involved 12,900 in- terviews with decision-makers at SMEs across all 27 EU Member States. 260 Maltese SMEs partic- ipated. The results were published recently. A majority of employers reported that integration into the workplace is relatively straightforward, while a similar proportion said retaining these workers does not present major difficulties