Malta Strengthens Support for Family Businesses Through New EU Funding Partnership

Family businesses in Malta are set to gain expert support in accessing European Union funding under a new cooperation agreement between the Family Business Office and Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta. The collaboration, now in effect, aims to streamline the process of applying for the many open calls and schemes launched by EU bodies, opening up opportunities that family-owned enterprises have often found difficult to reach.

In an interview with Business Now, a Senior Manager at the Family Business Office, Claude Abela, noted that the initiative grew out of an intergovernmental effort with discussions beginning last year. The aim is to clarify the mechanisms and policies relevant to businesses across every sector, helping enterprises that might otherwise miss application deadlines or assume they do not qualify.

For family businesses looking to expand, become international, or strengthen their financial position, EU funding can prove valuable. Several calls are issued each year across a wide range of sectors, yet many enterprises remain unaware of them. The partnership is designed to close that gap, guiding companies from first enquiry through to a completed application.

The cooperation agreement is one of several initiatives the Office is rolling out for family companies. These include training sessions on cybersecurity delivered with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, and programmes run with the Malta Business Registry covering company set-ups and the responsibilities of directors. Details of the courses will be shared through the Office's social media channels and member mailing list.

Domestic support continues alongside the European route. Abela highlighted the SME Guarantee Scheme, run with the Malta Development Bank, under which the bank covers 80% of any collateral when a company seeks a loan from a local financial institution.