The EU4U Roadshow, a public exhibition about EU structural funds, moved to Marsalforn yesterday after shows in Qawra and Marsaxlokk, the roadshow highlights the benefits that Gozo is reaping from the funds through various projects.

The roadshow will be open from 11 am to 11 pm every day, closing at 10 pm on Sundays before moving to Valletta on October 10th.

The roadshow is organised by the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division within the Office of the Prime Minister which is the managing authority for structural funds.

Gozo Ministry permanent secretary Joseph Micallef said that prior to EU membership the government had carried out a study to identify Gozo's specific needs. The resulting priorities had been allocated 10 per cent of the structural funds received by Malta for 2004-6. Marcel Bonnici, head of the Employment and Training Corporation in Gozo, said courses co-financed by the European Social Funds included schemes aimed at unemployed graduates, the support of small businesses, the fostering of entrepreneurship and customer service training. To date 109 Gozitans had taken such courses.

EU affairs director Rita Cutajar said the Gozo Ministry was also running courses with the help of EU funds, craft courses for sustainable careers in Gozo, University Gozo Centre courses and training courses to enhance the employability of the workforce. A total of 107 people had attended.

Projects of an infrastructural nature included the building of an Institute for Tourism Studies in Gozo, the construction of the road leading to San Lawrenz, the building of an extension to the Arts and Crafts Centre and the construction of a Crafts Development Centre. Another project involved the buying two big freezers to provide cold storage facilities for fishermen.

European Regional Development Funds project leader John Cremona said that other EU funds were being used to promote tourism in Gozo.

One such project involved the buying of nine specialised showcases for the Archaeology Museum which have made it possible for remains found at the Brockdorff Circle to be permanently exhibited in Gozo.

Another was the creation of artificial dive sites which included the successful scuttling of two ships at Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar two weeks ago.