Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/739032
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2016 8 News 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 – 10 th October 2016 Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes 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 European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, designated by the Managing Authority as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the 2014 – 2020 programming period, would like to announce the following calls: • Call 1 – SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Priority Axis 3 – 'Enhancing Malta's competitiveness through investment in SMEs' Investment Priority (IP) 3d – Supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes. This scheme is administered through an open rolling call. First cut-off date: Tuesday, 31st January 2017 at noon. • Call 1 – SME Internationalisation Grant Scheme Priority Axis 3 – 'Enhancing Malta's competitiveness through investment in SMEs' Investment Priority (IP) 3d – Supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes. This scheme is administered through an open rolling call. First cut-off date: Tuesday, 31st January 2017 at noon. Information sessions will be organised for prospective applicants. Dates and venues will be notified in the coming days. Further information on these calls including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation, as well as on the information sessions may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt. Alitalia, Air Malta deal 'not dead' JURGEN BALZAN ALTHOUGH Prime Minister Jo- seph Muscat has made it abun- dantly clear that he is close to pulling the plug on the deal to sell 49% of Air Malta to Alita- lia, sources close to the Italian airline and Air Malta insist that "discussions are ongoing". In a clear sign that negotiations with Alitalia were not reaching his expectations, Muscat recent- ly said the government would not sign a deal that is not benefi- cial to Air Malta. However, sources close to the airlines are adamant that the deal is not dead and Alitalia sources told MaltaToday that "discussions are ongoing". Air Malta has been undergoing a restructuring process costing some €230 million after it was given the green light for state aid under strict European Commis- sion rules and with the airline's financial sustainability in serious doubt, the part-privatisation of Air Malta is a priority for Mus- cat's government. However, as reported in Malta- Today Midweek, Alitalia itself is in a spot of bother as Abu Dhabi- based airline Etihad, which owns 49% of Alitalia is threatening to withdraw its investment if the Italian government does not honour its promises. Various reports in the Italian media say that Etihad is "threat- ening" to withdraw its invest- ment after a mere 18 months, with Alitalia currently losing €500,000 a day. In an interview with Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere Del- la Sera, Etihad's chairman and CEO James Hogan said he was "disappointed" with the Italian government led by Matteo Renzi because "a number of the con- dition precedents haven't been met." While insisting that the Abu Dhabi airline is committed to Al- italia he warned that the govern- ment should do its part. "We're committed to the partnership, to tackle these issues, but frankly as an investor we need Italy to sup- port us." Earlier this year, Alitalia signed a memorandum of understand- ing with the Maltese government over the possible acquisition of 49% of Air Malta by the Italian airline. MaltaToday is informed that Alitalia are due to take a final decision on the acquisition this month following a rigorous due diligence exercise. But if Etihad pull out of Alita- lia, it would definitely spell the end of Alitalia's interest in Air Malta because the Italian air- line's future will be on the line. Etihad's chairman and CEO James Hogan said he was "disappointed" with the Italian government Court confirms €250,000 fine for Air Malta bird strike MIRIAM DALLI THE Court of Appeal, presided by Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri and judges Tonio Mallia and Joseph Azzopardi, has ordered the Malta International Airport to pay Air Malta over a quarter of a million euros for a 2004 bird strike. The judgement, delivered on 30 September, threw out MIA's appeal and reconfirmed a sentence handed down over four years ago. MIA must now pay the national airline and Shield Insurance more than €250,000 for the damages sus- tained by an Air Malta Airbus air- liner back in December 2004. Flight KM100 to London was preparing for take-off, when a flock of starlings flew straight into the jet's fly path, causing substan- tial damage to the plane – parts and repair works amounted to Lm107,551; Shield Insurance cov- ered Lm51,961. For safety reasons, passengers were asked to disem- bark. It transpired that, at the time, the only bird control and reduc- tion mechanism at the airport was a truck equipped with a device to scare birds away. Instead of allow- ing the vehicle to inspect the run- way, the pilots were given clearance to take off. The MIA had objected to the ar- guments raised, stating that the Convention on International Civil Aviation provided guidelines and recommendations but did not im- pose legal obligations. MIA had also argued that it was not respon- sible for the taxiways and runways, as these were controlled by the Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd. MIA said it was MATS who did not give the vehicle clearance to inspect the runway. However, the court argued that MIA, as the airport operator, should have ensured that the adequate bird control measures were in place. Prior to the 2004 incident, the number of inspections amounted to two and were then raised to four. Whilst the MIA proceeded to ap- peal the 2012 decision, the Court of Appeal said it agreed with the deci- sion delivered by the first court, ar- guing that it was not convinced that MIA had exhausted all measures to avoid such an incident. The judges argued that MIA, with better co-ordination with MATS, could have easily ensured the morn- ing inspection of the area, ensuring the birds were dispersed and the incident would have been avoided.