Common use of Achievements Clause in Contracts

Achievements. Within the situation analysis reference has been made to the achievements registered during the 2007-2013 period. This section gives a generic overview of what has been achieved to date. The interventions funded through these programmes have directly affected the daily lives of Maltese citizens through investments in critical areas for the social and economic growth of the territory such as education, employment, health, innovation etc. In terms of infrastructure, 113 mainstream projects and 9 Aid Schemes were approved201 under Cohesion Policy contributing towards various sectors including knowledge and innovation, tourism, environment, energy, climate change, accessibility and human capital. Within the knowledge and innovation sector, measures included the upgrade of research and industrial estate facilities and the development of a life-sciences park and enterprise infrastructure. The results achieved are twofold: on the one hand the research facilities attracting and enabling the fostering of innovative skills, primarily within the University of Malta; whilst on the other hand, investing in a business environment, which is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. All these interventions lead to the re-structuring process of local industry and moving towards a competitive knowledge economy. In this context it is worth noting that, by end of 2013, there were seven (7) new/upgraded industrial zone projects; twenty-three (23) new/modernized specialized learning facilities constructed/refurbished; 259 SMEs supported and 583 enterprises202 benefiting from the JEREMIE Financial Instrument. The sustainability of the tourism sector has yielded significant results particularly in improving the Maltese tourism product. Investments in twenty (20) initiatives are currently being implemented. These initiatives include interventions in cultural heritage sites comprising fortifications, archaeological heritage sites as well as landscaped urban spaces, particularly within tourism zones. These have contributed to create an improved tourism experience. Furthermore, 100 private sector organisations have also invested within the sector through EU funded aid schemes. During the last seven years, environment and climate change were also main areas of intervention. These interventions were undertaken in the waste, water and energy sectors. Actions to minimise the effects of waste on the environment and society included the increase in waste separation at source, plants for the treatment of municipal solid waste and the rehabilitation and restoration of closed landfills. Furthermore, measures aimed at reducing untreated sewage effluent discharge into the sea and addressing the incidence of high storm water volumes have also been implemented. EU funds also contributed towards investment within renewable energy and resource efficiency, mainly through the installation of photovoltaics, micro-wind and solar water heaters. Such measures were intended to promote the benefits of clean energy from renewable sources. In conjunction with environmental measures, investments aimed at urban regeneration and at improving the quality of life were also implemented. Investments targeted key areas such as e- accessibility, transport, urban re-generation, education and the social sector. In terms of transport, as at 2013, Malta has achieved a total of 20.05km of upgraded road infrastructure, one (1) sea terminal and two (2) modal shift projects contributing towards better accessibility. Furthermore, in improving the better quality of life of citizens, investments in education, social and health were undertaken. These include the Computing Services Centre Building at the University of Malta, the Oncology facility, the Upgrading of Operating Theatre and the Setting Up of a Radiology Unit and the provision of childcare facilities by enterprises. These infrastructural interventions were complemented by investment in human capital through the European Social Fund. Eighty-four (84) operations were supported with the aim of increasing the participation rates in employment and education and training. This contributed towards ensuring that the working age population and enterprises become flexible to respond to the needs of the economy. Investments included measures for the re/integration of job seekers and inactive persons into the labour market or to the retention of their current jobs. After receiving the assistance more than 38,718 participants were in employment or further studies, six months after assistance. 201 Data as at end of 2012, Annual Implementation Report. 202 Jeremie Data is at end 2013. In an effort to increase the take-up of stable and quality employment by persons who find difficulties in participating in the labour market, ESF funds were also utilised to encourage the integration, retention and progression of specific cohorts, such as women, persons with disabilities, persons with mental health difficulties, the inactive, youth, persons with addictions, the long-term unemployed as well as parents and educators. In this respect, more than 11,759 persons were assisted. Investment during the 2007-2013 programming period, has also contributed to improved competitiveness within the agricultural sector. Efforts undertaken included infrastructural investments such as the modernisation of agricultural holdings and agro-processing enterprises with a view to facilitating the conversion to more competitive and sustainable production methods. In addition, investments aimed to mitigate water scarcity were also supported with a view to maximising water efficiency within the sector. These initiatives were complemented with training to the farming community. In fact a total of 2,361 farmers were successfully trained. The training was aimed towards providing farmers and other persons, involved in agricultural activities, with the necessary skills to meet the challenges that result from the new standards and demands of the rural economy. Diversification within the agricultural sector with a view to improving the sustainability of the sector also played a key role. In this regard, measures aimed at improving the rural landscape and enhancing the value of localities were implemented. These contributed towards generating revenue for different localities and local businesses. In fact by the end of 2012, twenty-three (23) heritage actions were supported. This has contributed towards registering an increase in the number of additional tourist visits within rural areas amounting to 123,208 visits. The fisheries sector has also benefitted from European funds with a view to enabling the fisheries sector to achieve the objectives set within the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) namely: stimulating the development of an economically profitable fisheries sector which respects the environment and contributes to the well-being of the populations dependent on the sector. Within this context, the Maltese Fishing Vessel Register was reduced by 2984.23 kilowatts (kW) and

Achievements. Within the situation analysis reference has been made to the achievements registered during the 2007-2007- 2013 period. This section gives a generic overview of what has been achieved to date. The interventions funded through these programmes have directly affected the daily lives of Maltese citizens through investments in critical areas for the social and economic growth of the territory such as education, employment, health, innovation etc. In terms of infrastructure, 113 mainstream projects and 9 Aid Schemes were approved201 under Cohesion Policy contributing towards various sectors including knowledge and innovation, tourism, environment, energy, climate change, accessibility and human capital. Within the knowledge and innovation sector, measures included the upgrade of research and industrial estate facilities and the development of a life-sciences park and enterprise infrastructure. The results achieved are twofold: on the one hand the research facilities attracting and enabling the fostering of innovative skills, primarily within the University of Malta; whilst on the other hand, investing in a business environment, which is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. All these interventions lead to the re-structuring process of local industry and moving towards a competitive knowledge economy. In this context it is worth noting that, by end of 2013, there were seven (7) new/upgraded industrial zone projects; twenty-three (23) new/modernized specialized learning facilities constructed/refurbished; 259 SMEs supported and 583 enterprises202 benefiting from the JEREMIE Financial Instrument. The sustainability of the tourism sector has yielded significant results particularly in improving the Maltese tourism product. Investments in twenty (20) initiatives are currently being implemented. These initiatives include interventions in cultural heritage sites comprising fortifications, archaeological heritage sites as well as landscaped urban spaces, particularly within tourism zones. These have contributed to create an improved tourism experience. Furthermore, 100 private sector organisations have also invested within the sector through EU funded aid schemes. During the last seven years, environment and climate change were also main areas of intervention. These interventions were undertaken in the waste, water and energy sectors. Actions to minimise the effects of waste on the environment and society included the increase in waste separation at source, plants for the treatment of municipal solid waste and the rehabilitation and restoration of closed landfills. Furthermore, measures aimed at reducing untreated sewage effluent discharge into the sea and addressing the incidence of high storm water volumes have also been implemented. EU funds also contributed towards investment within renewable energy and resource efficiency, mainly through the installation of photovoltaics, micro-wind and solar water heaters. Such measures were intended to promote the benefits of clean energy from renewable sources. In conjunction with environmental measures, investments aimed at urban regeneration and at improving the quality of life were also implemented. Investments targeted key areas such as e- accessibility, transport, urban re-generation, education and the social sector. In terms of transport, as at 2013, Malta has achieved a total of 20.05km of upgraded road infrastructure, one (1) sea terminal and two (2) modal shift projects contributing towards better accessibility. Furthermore, in improving the better quality of life of citizens, investments in education, social and health were undertaken. These include the Computing Services Centre Building at the University of Malta, the Oncology facility, the Upgrading of Operating Theatre and the Setting Up of a Radiology Unit and the provision of childcare facilities by enterprises. These infrastructural interventions were complemented by investment in human capital through the European Social Fund. Eighty-four (84) operations were supported with the aim of increasing the participation rates in employment and education and training. This contributed towards ensuring that the working age population and enterprises become flexible to respond to the needs of the economy. Investments included measures for the re/integration of job seekers and inactive persons into the labour market or to the retention of their current jobs. After receiving the assistance more than 38,718 participants were in employment or further studies, six months after assistance. 201 Data as at end of 2012, Annual Implementation Report. 202 Jeremie Data is at end 2013. In an effort to increase the take-up of stable and quality employment by persons who find difficulties in participating in the labour market, ESF funds were also utilised to encourage the integration, retention and progression of specific cohorts, such as women, persons with disabilities, persons with mental health difficulties, the inactive, youth, persons with addictions, the long-term unemployed as well as parents and educators. In this respect, more than 11,759 persons were assisted. Investment during the 2007-2013 programming period, has also contributed to improved competitiveness within the agricultural sector. Efforts undertaken included infrastructural investments such as the modernisation of agricultural holdings and agro-processing enterprises with a view to facilitating the conversion to more competitive and sustainable production methods. In addition, investments aimed to mitigate water scarcity were also supported with a view to maximising water efficiency within the sector. These initiatives were complemented with training to the farming community. In fact a total of 2,361 farmers were successfully trained. The training was aimed towards providing farmers and other persons, involved in agricultural activities, with the necessary skills to meet the challenges that result from the new standards and demands of the rural economy. Diversification within the agricultural sector with a view to improving the sustainability of the sector also played a key role. In this regard, measures aimed at improving the rural landscape and enhancing the value of localities were implemented. These contributed towards generating revenue for different localities and local businesses. In fact by the end of 2012, twenty-three (23) heritage actions were supported. This has contributed towards registering an increase in the number of additional tourist visits within rural areas amounting to 123,208 visits. The fisheries sector has also benefitted from European funds with a view to enabling the fisheries sector to achieve the objectives set within the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) namely: stimulating the development of an economically profitable fisheries sector which respects the environment and contributes to the well-being of the populations dependent on the sector. Within this context, the Maltese Fishing Vessel Register was reduced by 2984.23 kilowatts (kW) and