A Commission staff working document published on 24 June 2026 as part of the Digital Decade 2026 country reports finds that Malta has achieved strong connectivity and digital public services but faces persistent weaknesses in ICT specialists, digital skills, and cybersecurity. The report, which accompanies the Commission's State of the Digital Decade 2026 communication, assesses Malta's performance against the EU's 2030 digital targets and provides tailored recommendations.
Malta has set 12 of 14 possible national targets, with 58% aligned to EU 2030 goals, and 63% of its 2025 trajectory points are on track. It addressed 33% of the six Commission recommendations from 2025 via new measures. Its updated January 2026 roadmap includes 90 measures (24 new) with a total budget of EUR 336 million (1.37% of 2025 GDP); 62% of these measures end by end-2026. Public opinion strongly supports digital policy: 91% of Maltese say it should be a very high or high EU priority, and 97% want EU-Member State cooperation on cybersecurity.
Malta allocates 27% of its recovery plan (EUR 0.07 billion) and 14% of cohesion funding (EUR 0.1 billion) to digital. It participates in the IPCEI on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies (EUR 250 million capital investment) and in the EuroHPC and Chips Joint Undertakings. Key assets include the CALYPSO AI Factory Antenna for start-ups and SMEs, the Malta Semiconductor Competence Centre, the PRISM quantum-secured network, and a Digital Innovation Hub offering free access to AI and cloud tools.
However, the report identifies critical weaknesses. ICT specialists make up only 4.8% of the workforce, below the EU average of 5.0%, with low STEM uptake and underrepresentation of women in ICT. Digital skills are lacking among older people and those with lower education, and cybersecurity incident rates are high. On connectivity, Malta has already met 100% very high-capacity network (VHCN) and 5G coverage targets, with 90.36% fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) coverage, but rural fibre stands at 41.92% (below the EU average of 62.61%) and 5G in the 3.4-3.8GHz band at 40% (below the EU average of 74.75%).
The Commission recommends that Malta enhance ICT career attractiveness, especially for women; strengthen basic digital skills for vulnerable groups; improve enterprise cybersecurity posture; facilitate SME digitalisation and advanced technology uptake; and promote rural fibre and 5G rollout in the 3.4-3.8GHz band. These measures aim to close structural gaps and mobilise investments for 2030 and beyond.
Maltese businesses face pressure to upskill workers and adopt advanced technologies, while ICT professionals may benefit from new training and recruitment incentives. Vulnerable groups, including older people and those with lower education, stand to gain from targeted digital skills programmes. The cybersecurity sector may see increased demand for services as enterprises bolster their defences. Rural residents could benefit from improved fibre and 5G coverage, narrowing the digital divide. The report does not specify next institutional steps, but the Commission's recommendations will feed into national policy adjustments and EU-level monitoring under the Digital Decade framework.