Government of Malta

Policy topics Government of Malta is active on

What Government of Malta has said (80)

• 2026-06-16 “The gap would be, in fact, significantly reduced. However, we note that Malta will still have the highest national co-financing co-financing rate amongst all member states coupled with an increase of over 100% of own resources. The introduction of the possibility of a transfer from the Home Affairs allocation to the general allocation, we feel, is a sensible one. Regretfully, regarding the the aggressive area based Income Support Scheme, Malta remains in a unique position. In fact, it would be the only member state to face a significant drop in aid per hectare of more than 50%. The maximum amount per hectare does not reflect Malta's specific circumstances, particularly the fact that in Malta most agricultural holdings are smaller than 1 or 2 hectares. A solution, therefore, needs to be found either in the negotiating box or in the sectoral regulation. President, Commissioner. Further work is still needed, including on targets and the reference framework, and we look forward for this to continue on the basis of the current negotiating box in the coming months. Thank you.”
  Agricultural funding
• 2026-06-16 “Thank you Marilena. Commissioner Malta supports the presidency's approach to the proposed cuts and the Commission's proposal. Different policy areas started from different bases and therefore one cannot ignore ignore this fact and it was therefore appropriate to take account of the changes of the increase or decrease as compared with the 2021 2027 period. While this negotiating box partly corrects the imbalances in the Commission's proposal, cohesion policy would still face a real terms cut of at least 11% and probably more, whereas other areas will see increases of over 700%. This also is a fact. One also cannot ignore the reality that cohesion policy remains crucial even in those Member States who have already seen a significant level of convergence, particularly for those who have permanent geographical disadvantages. Furthermore, cohesion is the best means we have to reinforce competitiveness and resilience, not least in the periphery of the union. In this context, we welcome the transfer of some resources from the EU facility to the pre-allocated component of the NRP. These modest increases are fully justified in our. In our view and respond, at least in part to the recent joint statement by 16 Member States. We are grateful to you, president, for the proposed specific co-financing solution, which goes a long way towards addressing Malta's anomalous situation.”
  Cohesion and rural funding
• 2026-06-16 “Thank you Marilena Malta. In fact, sincerely thanks you and your team for the considerable efforts which you did regarding these three proposals. We welcome the progress made on all these three files during the negotiations. We declared our concern that the approach in the NRP could give rise to significant challenges for smaller administrations. And we trust that these concerns could still be addressed in the next phase of the negotiations. Morton Fact will be submitting a statement to be annexed to the minutes of this council, where we will elaborate in further detail regarding these concerns. We obviously thank you for your efforts and we congratulate you on this success.”
  Digitalization of public governance & administration
• “Thank you Stephanie. I also would like to wish you a successful and productive presidency. Um, let me begin by expressing Malta's strong support for the efforts to reach a timely agreement on the digital euro and the broader single currency package. We firmly believe that the earlier we reach a political consensus, the better, not only to provide clarity to the market and citizens at large, but also to maintain a strategic momentum. However, while rapid is important, we must ensure that we allow sufficient time for careful deliberation. This is a complex issue, and thus it is crucial that the final legal text is clear, coherent, and future proof. Turning to the specific outstanding issues, we share the view that the key points of contention remain around the following. The governance over the holding limits. The decision making process for the launch of the Digital Euro, as well as concerns surrounding privacy and compensation. These are not merely technical matters, they are politically significant. They are important aspects of the digital euro project that must be well addressed to ensure a successful uptake of the digital euro. Looking further, Malta believes that another critical element that requires our attention is the degree of involvement of the Council in key decisions, particularly those concerning the timing and formal introduction of the digital Euro. Given the strategic weight of this initiative for the euro area and its broader implications for euros international role, we believe a well calibrated balance must be struck. This includes thoughtful consideration of the Council's role in relevant implementing acts. Where appropriate. To conclude, while the goals we have set are undoubtedly ambitious, Malta remains confident that through sustained dialogue and close cooperation, we can collectively address these challenges and establish a regulatory framework for the digital euro that is both forward looking and secure. Thank you.”
  Digital euro
• “Thank you, Lina, and good morning, colleagues. It's good to see you again. And first of all, many thanks to the Cypriot presidency for initiating this discussion on the next work plan for culture. Colleagues, we have to really not underestimate how important this discussion is and how timely it is. It comes at a time when we are all facing so many questions. It comes at a time where we have to make a collective effort, a collective effort to win over hearts and minds of citizens and of Europeans. And I want to start by sharing an experience from my most recent mission to the Baltic States. I come from Narva, from Estonia, where I was celebrating Europe Day on Saturday. For those of you who are maybe not familiar with it, Narva is 100 meters away from the Russian border. You can literally see on the other side of the river, the Russian, the Russian territory. It's a place where, on a daily basis, many Europeans like us have drones flying over their heads, over their roofs. It's a place where the director of a museum, of the Narva Museum, again, a European like us, so a European citizen, has been sentenced in absentia for 12 years in prison and where her colleague who was doing a public lecture just doing a public lecture. Again, another European was beaten. And as a result of this beating, he died. So this is the backdrop against which we have this discussion. But there, what I could see was people who are so incredibly strong. Their message is that Europe starts there, and it's a message that they live. So they live Europe. They celebrate democracy, which is what they did on Europe Day. They celebrate freedom, and all that comes with it. And I guess the message that that sends to us around this table is that let's not forget what is at stake here. Let's not forget that this is existential. Let's remember that cultural spaces are the places where people meet, where they celebrate, where they discuss, where they engage, and where democracy lives. Let's remember that cultural workers, musicians, actors, writers, illustrators, and so on and so forth are so fundamental in this joint mission that we have to win over the hearts and minds of Europeans. And this is precisely the reason why these issues are so central in our culture compass for Europe, a compass that we've built together in these rooms and that we will implement together. And I especially want to thank you all for the commitment to advance the discussions on the joint declaration, which reaffirms our political commitment on the principles that underpin this vision. And so far as the work plan is concerned, I am very glad to see that the implementation of the current work plan is now almost over, and this has facilitated cooperation, the steer direction, and this enabled us to learn from one another. Most notably, the experience from the open method of coordination platforms was very valuable. It allowed us to pool expertise to share best practices and to develop policy recommendations. And this inspired flagship initiatives in the culture compass, like the revision of the EU International Cultural Relations strategy and the guidelines on culture, health, and well-being. It was also what inspired the Team Europe approach for cultural heritage in Ukraine, an initiative that was born in Uzhhorod and where the commission coordinated joint efforts to support restoration, preservation, and conservation of cultural heritage. Turning then to the future work plan. This has to be focused on impact. Impact. Impact. Impact. First, let's build on what works. Let's draw lessons from recent crises and adapt our cooperation to new realities. Second, we have to focus our priorities on where it matters the most. All of us know all too well that our resources are not infinite, and we are stretched. Let's keep this focused and let's keep it practical. Actions have to be concrete. And third, let's focus on cooperation where it adds value. The issues are well known. Let's focus on the priorities, the impact of artificial intelligence, working conditions, threats to freedom of artistic expression. My suggestion would be to focus a lot on data collection and that the cooperation that we do is structured. To conclude, our cultural compass, and I insist on the word our cultural compass, already sets the course for the way forward. I would very much like to see this work plan complementing it with more result oriented actions. You can count on my support and the commissions as committed partners in this joint mission.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Thank you Minister, and thank you as well for preparing this policy debate and this opportunity to express [00:13:00] our views on such an important point, because we do recognize the importance of drawing attention to how research can be harnessed to foster a research ecosystem that propels the EU towards technological leadership in critical areas like health care, AI, net zero, energy, space and beyond. So we do think this is timely. And to achieve this, we think that the European research Area must elevate its prioritisation of maximising the capitalisation and impact of research findings. This, we believe, [00:13:30] will entail a collaborative effort to consolidate and interlink knowledge Valorisation tools, as well as pooling resources and expertise. Countries with lower level of R&D must be particularly targeted with targeted, we believe, and supported in this respect, ensuring that no Member State is left behind in the realm of technology. We feel that the EU must highlight its commitment to bridge the Valley of Death to prevent potentially pivotal technologies from falling short of realising [00:14:00] their full potential. And to address this challenge, there is a need to diversify funding sources. This includes not only exploring alternative public funding instruments but also actively engaging with the private sector, including venture capital, seed funding and equity. Furthermore, the implementation of public support measures such as interest free or subsidized interest rate loans could serve as reinforcing mechanisms supporting research breakthroughs through transform being transformed into tangible, [00:14:30] market ready solutions. The strength of any economy lies in the capabilities of its workforce, so establishing a skilled, educated and productive workforce as a pillar of the EU's R&D ecosystem system is vital for effective knowledge valorization, Malta suggests further EU support is given towards professions engaged in knowledge transfer, in the deployment of tools to foster entrepreneurship in critical technology domains, and recognising [00:15:00] the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in research. Moreover, we acknowledge the need for appropriate legal frameworks to be streamlined, ensuring an efficient, seamless and user friendly pathway for valorising intellectual property. Civil society views also need to be taken into consideration and through the co-creation of policies, direct citizen engagement, embracing citizen science initiatives, and supporting bottom up research activities, we can elevate the visibility and significance of R&D. This [00:15:30] broad engagement will not only enhance our understanding of economic and market dynamics, but can also play a pivotal role in building public trust in the scientific process. Malta's R&D strategic Plan for of 2023 to 2027 aims to catalyze knowledge valorisation on a local level. The. The Draft Strategic Plan encompasses of various measures to amplify citizen involvement and awareness, awareness, strengthen Stem education and entrepreneurship, and foster enhanced collaboration [00:16:00] between industry and academia. Through this comprehensive and forward looking approach, we are seeking to lay the foundations for a vibrant R&D landscape to help accelerate and boost knowledge valorization. And to that end, we look forward that we can also bring this into the European level. Thank you very much.”
  Research priorities within the EU
• “Thank [00:18:00] you very much. I would like to thank you. We recognise the progress that has been carried out recently on our end. We're still going through our consultations on the possible impact of this proposal on our territory. We believe that specific attention should be given for those cases where the circumstances can lead to certain risks. With the introduction of this technology and its possible amplification of these repercussions with special geographic and evolutionary isolated ecosystems with rare and fragile endemic flora. We also need to assess how this structure of our agricultural systems, specifically the organic sector, can coexist given our small island specificities. Moreover, the issue of patenting and access is something we need to further discuss. We look forward to contributing to further discussions. Thank you.”
  New Genomic Techniques
• “Thank you. Malta. Thanks the Portuguese delegation for bringing up this important [00:03:30] discussion in view of the volatile global situation that is impacting the fisheries and aquaculture sectors across the whole value chain. Malta joins the calls for increased flexibility in MFF for these exceptional cases, and believes that prolonging the period of eligibility would be helpful to assist the sector in this regard. Malta supports this proposal and deems it is crucial to ensure flexibility, especially [00:04:00] when considering the cost scope of MFF. Increasing sectoral resilience, promoting diversity, and advancing research and development are some of the core principles of MFF. Hence, Malta believes it is imperative to allow flexibility to maintain sectoral competitiveness by minimising the financial and operational impacts.”
  Funding for fisheries and aquaculture
• “Thank you, chair. Malta feels that this renewal of the action plan is an opportunity so that the cooperation of the European Union focuses on a number of priorities where added value is more clear, sustainability and resilience of culture heritage, the improvement of mobility and the work of artists as well as inclusion are priority for Malta. We emphasize as well the need to have stronger relationships even with our neighbors, even on the Eastern part because of the developments that we are seeing and that we are open in terms of the multicultural level. Particular actions should not be prescriptive. We need flexibility so that we can draft, adapt, and implement the policies as we need in our context. Furthermore, national authorities need to work further and better within their own context, which cannot be reflected at a harmonized level. Therefore, we need to strengthen the consultative process. The proposals address, these aspects within the culture and, artistic aspects. The culture compass needs to be practical and needs to contribute to the European democracy action plan as well as the strengthening of the European Green Deal. The flexibility needs to remain central, and we have to realize that situations, affect countries in different ways. Therefore, we need to be adaptive and ready to face even the geopolitical and technological changes. Malta supports a realistic plan, which is, which allows flexibility to the member states and allows them respond to the emerging sociocultural changes. Thank you.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “So, there are 2 parts for what I'm about to say. The first part is the more formal part where I thank you for a constructive exchange, a productive exchange, full of insights and laying strong foundations for the Irish presidency and its preparations for the culture the work plan for culture. And I invite the Irish presidency to take this leadership role, and I assure you that the commission will be supportive. And then there is the personal part where I make a bit of a personal observation. And this is really the part where I say what I think you need to hear. And it's really made me happy to hear many of you speak about the importance of strengthening our role in the world, of international culture relations. Honestly, I I was very appreciative of the fact that many of you recognize that this is something that we have to work on. At the same time, colleagues, let me remind you that in the context of ongoing discussions that are happening in this room, in this council even, when the commission is doing this, it is the member states that are asking for caution and watering down the ideas that we have for work in this area. So going forward, I would like to invite you also to have an internal reflection on this also with your ambassador ambassadors. And I really hope that the council will be constructive in this part of the the inter institutional negotiations in the joint declaration. Thank you.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Thank you very much, chair for giving me the floor. The nature restoration law has been the subject of extensive and difficult discussions at all levels. Discussions which have led us to the agreement with European parliament that we have before us. We have all had to make difficult choices and yet we believe a balanced compromise has been reached. One that is both ambitious but also provides important flexibilities that make the law implementable. For that reason, Malta will continue to support the nature restoration law. Thank you”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• “20:13 – 17:21:57): Thank you, presidency, for the opportunity to address this council on a matter of strategic importance to our union, the future of the combined transport directive. The combined transport directive was designed to shift freight from roads to more sustainable modes. Its objective remains as relevant as ever, but the current framework is no longer fit for purpose in today's realities. Furthermore, its rigid distance based criteria fail to reflect the realities of island and peripheral member states. The commission's recourse proposal offered genuine promise. It recognized the environmental potential, the economic benefits, and ensured that peripheral and geographically disadvantaged regions are not left behind in the single market. This is why Malta is deeply concerned by the commission's intention to withdraw this proposal. MoTA acknowledges the complexity and the difficult negotiations held within council, but underlines that these should not be regarded as failed negotiations. Several avenues remain unexplored, including hybrid models, enhanced flexibility clauses, and differentiated approaches that respect geographic diversity. We, therefore, urge the commission to allow more time for those discussions to unfold, and we call on incoming presidencies to place this debate back on the agenda with fresh determination. The administers the free transport sector, our climate commitments, and the integrity of our single market all demand that we do not give up on this reform. Mota san is ready to engage constructively. We ask for the same resolve from our colleagues around this table. Thank you, chair.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Thank you chair. Malta supports this point by Germany and Austria, as we believe that the country of origin labelling is a key tool to ensure that the sustainability of the local product [00:18:30] is guaranteed. On the other hand, we cannot exclude that such a proposal will also bring with it a number of challenges to design an effective legislative framework. Because some products can be produced, processed and packaged in more than one country. Therefore, the current regulatory framework of the European Union for the country of origin labelling is complex, fragmented and difficult for consumers to understand. Therefore, [00:19:00] we conclude by stressing that whilst we agree fully with this initiative to be taken into consideration, we must also see that flexibility and market incentives are maintained, while at the same time having a label that is easy to understand. Thank you. Merci.”
  Food labelling harmonisation at EU level
• “Thank you. Attila. I'll go straight to the Draghi report, because we consider the Drudge Report a key contributor to discussions on enhancing European competitiveness. And we agree with the message that came across on the need to dismantle barriers to competition and support a thorough review, particularly in the energy sector. And it's interesting that in the Drudge Report, higher energy prices for end consumers are identified as one of the EU's greatest disadvantage. And as the report highlights, this is one of the main challenges that we believe we must continue focusing on moving forward. We need to tackle the high energy prices that our businesses and citizens have to incur as a matter of priority, because this places us at a disadvantage when compared to our non EU competitors. Now, while acknowledging the positive steps that have been made in the recent electricity market reform, we believe that further reforms to our wholesale market are needed to factor in the shares of renewable energy storage and also flexibility solutions. I also believe that tools such as PPA and also CFDs need to be more widespread to help decouple prices. We welcome Draghi's assessment related to connected and modernised gas and electricity grids. This assessment echoes the calls that Malta has been making over the past years. Increased investments, we believe, are key for equipping our businesses and citizens with actively priced and cleaner energy, leaving no one behind in this transition. And this is of increased importance for member states at the periphery of the continent like ours, which are still not connected to the European gas grid and which have limited electricity interconnectivity with mainland Europe. Interconnections cannot be implemented without strategic partnerships with other countries in our regions, and in this regard, I believe we need to properly look at the potential that lies on the shores of the Mediterranean. And here we call on the new commission to dedicate specific support for this course. As an island member state, I would like to emphasise that the EU needs to concretely recognise that although the cross-border impact of certain projects in island member states may be limited for the European Union as a whole, they are essential for the member States concerned and for the Union's energy security as a whole. So in this regard, I totally agree with the need to deploy more renewables to decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, increase competitiveness and enhance security of supply. We need to ensure availability and accessibility to clean technology, including offshore renewable technology, which so far has not yet reached market Viability, and in this regard, we need to leverage funding and maximize its availability. And we need to keep this in mind as we also enter negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial framework. Thanks a lot.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you. Chair. Malta stands firmly behind the pragmatic approach to achieving the EU's decarbonisation goals, while boosting competitiveness of the European industry. Various policies, while ambitious, often impose uniform targets that do not account for varied capacities of the industry across different regions. The clean Industrial Deal is a promising step forward, but we must increase our efforts in supporting our SMEs, especially in peripheral regions and island member states, to foster innovation and growth. We need to work towards reducing red tape and administrative burden by simplifying and streamlining funding processes. This will incentivise our businesses to increase private investments towards sustainable practices. Energy market reforms are another critical area, accelerating the expansion of energy grids and cross-border interconnections, ensuring affordable energy access and reducing dependency on external sources are vital to maintaining industrial competitiveness while ensuring that no member state is left behind. Our share of energy and climate responsibilities should be grounded in scientific evidence and cost effectiveness, aligned with international frameworks such as the IMO and ICAO, while ensuring fair competition and a level playing field. A more flexible, phased approach to decarbonisation targets is essential, allowing industries to transition at a realistic pace without placing economic viability at risk. Under the next MFF, Malta Calls for Competitiveness Fund to support various initiatives including IPC three on semiconductors, the Future Chips act two transmission and storage infrastructure, hydrogen energy infrastructure and commercialisation of clean tech cleantech innovations. Malta faces structural bottlenecks linked to geographical insularity, limited connectivity and absence of economies of scale. This is why we continue to advocate for a more inclusive design of funding instruments to ensure smaller member States can participate effectively. In conclusion, we must avoid a one size fits all approach. Uphold the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, and ensure coherence across pan-European, national and regional industrial policies. Thank you. Chair.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “13:58 – 15:15:43): you very much, Chair. The NFF should play a central role in strengthening the functioning of the single market. It should support the investments needed to address persistent constraints, both territorial and market related. These continue to limit competitiveness across the union. In this respect, the MFF should retain sufficient flexibility to allow member states to design development strategies tailored to their specific economic structures, territorial realities, and institutional capacities. This is particularly important for small and open economies where structural constraints, limited economies of scale, and exposure to external shocks may hamper their ability to compete effectively in the single market. In light of these considerations, cohesion policy should remain a key investment tool. Its local approach and its capacity to support resilience ensure that all regions, including islands and geographically disadvantaged territories, which are cut off from the mainland, can fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the single market. And I would like to refer to here to the joint declaration mentioned by the Romanian minister, which we fully support. Finally, regarding the governance mechanism, we are not convinced that it will serve its intended purpose and therefore question its added value. However, if it is retained at the very least, the drafting of national plans should be completely excluded from the scope of this mechanism. Thank you.”
  Cohesion and rural funding
• “Thank you. Chair Malta welcomes the revisions aimed at improving the animal welfare package. And therefore we will be examining these proposals in further detail. We welcome the introduction of EU regulations for animal welfare. This reflects steps being taken nationally. We believe that any revision should take into consideration the specificities of each Member State. We look forward to contributing to future discussions on these proposals. Thank you.”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• “Thank you. Chair. I thank the presidency for your continued efforts in advancing this important file. The Connecting Europe facility has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in supporting the development of transport infrastructure projects across the union. In this regard, Malta has always underlined the importance of maintaining CEF as the primary instrument for implementing Ten-t initiatives. We have also stressed for the future programme to preserve its current structure and fundamental principles to ensure stability and consistency in both funding allocation and project execution. From a transport perspective, Malta welcomes the text as it stands today. It is inclusive of all member states, including island member States and their specific Specifically and rightly maintains a strong focus on both the core and comprehensive networks. In this regard, we strongly support the inclusion of ports on the European maritime space as having an important role in facilitating cross-border connectivity. We do believe that this balanced approach should equally be reflected in the energy related provisions. It is essential that the energy security of supply of all member states, particularly of Ireland member states, is duly prioritised. This is key for our transport sector, especially as we continue to make strides for the sector's electrification. With this in mind, Malta remains committed to working closely with the presidency to ensure that a well calibrated text is put forward for our energy ministers, and the partial general approach could be adopted at the forthcoming Energy Council. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you chair. Good morning everyone. I would like to wish best of luck to our new commissioner. I won't repeat your name because it has been repeated many times this morning. Um, I wish you luck because this is a complicated, but yet very exciting portfolio and I'm sure you will do well. Allow me to start by thanking the presidency for the excellent work carried out and the progress made on this dossier. The text we are adopting today is an important step. Acting upon the Valletta Declaration on Road Safety, which we had adopted during the Maltese Presidency back in 2017. Establishing a specific and efficient system providing union wide effects of driving qualifications will contribute to improving road safety throughout the union. This can effectively contribute to our union's prime objective of achieving Vision Zero, a goal which my country wholeheartedly endorses and is also prioritising at national level. We believe that the text presented today respects each member state's judicial and administrative procedures, while also providing enough flexibility for Member States to cooperate with each other in enforcing such disqualifications. To this effect, Malta can support the adoption of a general approach. With that said, it is important that the delicate balance reached today is safeguarded during the forthcoming discussions with the European Parliament. Thank you.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Thank you chair, and I'll try my best to keep within the time limit. First, I would like to thank Oscar and our Spanish colleagues for this initiative. Malta reiterates its full support for this declaration, which aptly highlights the pressing concerns facing maritime freight transport as a result of the implementation of the ETS. Our message is clear we cannot afford to sorely limit ourselves to undertaking monitoring actions. A more decisive step forward is required. We need to act fast and expedite implementation of robust actions to reinforce the capacity of the EU ETS directive to pre-empt the risks outlined in the declaration. Such action requires preventive measures that halt the consistent and imminent threat of evasive behaviour, and the resulting major unprecedented consequences on our economies. Furthermore, we strongly urge due consideration of the review clauses in EU legislation in relation to future alignment with measures adopted at the International Maritime Organization. Already at this stage, to provide clarity in terms of how existing EU and future IMO rules are expected to avoid duplication. Finally, let's continue our push for global solutions within the IMO to address the decarbonisation of the maritime sector at a global level, thereby guaranteeing a truly level playing field and the real reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• “Thank you. Chair. Malta recognises the progress made in the discussions under your presidency as regards PRM and the forum. At this point of the discussions, we agree with the proposals being made as they provide a legal framework which amalgamate the objectives of the European Ecological Pact and the Farm to Fork strategy. Both of [00:32:00] them are key to ensure sustainable production and food security. We look forward to contribute at future discussions under the incoming presidency. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you chair. Malta recognizes the value of the Steel and Metals Action Plan in enhancing the Union's strategic autonomy and contributing towards industrial resilience. At the same time. Caution should be exercised to ensure that the measures are calibrated and proportionate, in line with the interests of downstream industry. A core pillar of our economy's balance is required to avoid an excessive cumulative impact of different measures and policies on sectors such as manufacturing and construction, particularly on SMEs, including in higher costs for Maltese industry and consumers. Energy affordability continues to represent a significant challenge, underscoring the need for more robust EU level mechanisms to guarantee access to competitively priced, low carbon electricity. This comparative disadvantage must be tackled to ensure the viability of the union's energy intensive industries. Eu level solutions must also ensure that smaller member states are not placed at a systemic competitive disadvantage, particularly as they are price takers in the global marketplace. On this note, we are especially attentive to the maiden Euro proposal in the upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act and the current discussions on the possible downstream application of Cbam. Turning to automotive, the package is important for European industry, but here too, implementation must remain proportionate without imposing excessive burdens on manufacturers across the supply chain.”
  Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• “(18:08:54 – 18:14:41): Thank you. The discussion that we have just had today and yesterday in the council of ministers was a productive, constructive, and honest conversation. I would like to start by putting on record my gratitude to the Cypriot presidency of the council, the ministers responsible for culture, and the minister responsible for education for a job well done in leading these exchanges. I'm also very grateful for the support that we received from the council today, especially on the weaponization of sport and culture for propaganda. Sport and culture should never be used to normalize war crimes and to normalize aggression. Normalization is never to be mistaken with reconciliation. In sports, the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to lift restrictions on Belarus is 1 of a series of attempts to normalize what is happening in Ukraine. It follows a decision that was taken earlier by the International Paralympic Committee to invite Russia to come back to the Milan Okortyna Games, a decision by World Aquatics and by other associations and sporting federations. This reversal of restrictions comes as the war rages on, as Ukraine and as its infrastructure, including its sports infrastructure, continues to be deliberately targeted on a daily basis. It is a decision that is therefore a cause for concern. And it is also 1 that merits consideration from a public policy, a public safety, and a public security point of view. Notably, for European sporting events and for member states who are hosting sporting competitions. This especially given the lack of clarity on safety protocols, on the use of national symbols, and political representation. And cultural sectors more broadly for their strong stance on this. The scenes that we've seen in the Venice Bay and Nala this weekend speak for themselves. For us, Ukraine is family, and we will always come through for our family and protect our family. With the ministers, we also had an exchange on the EU work plan for culture. Our goals are aligned, and we want more European cooperation in a way that is responsive and flexible, focused firmly on structural issues, on working conditions in the culture and creative sectors, on artistic freedoms, and on issues like the impact of artificial intelligence. These are all matters that featured significantly in the culture compass for Europe. Discussions with the ministers for sport focused amongst other issues on issues related to mental health and sport. It was an opportunity to speak about the silent reality affecting many athletes, coaches, and the wider sporting community. In the revised council recommendation on health enhancing physical physical activity, we will put a greater emphasis on this at on the mental well-being dimension. On a concluding personal note, many thanks to doctor Tina and doctor Lina, the Cypriot ministers for their work and above all for their friendship. You did great work over the last few months, not least in advancing the work on proposals of our Erasmus plus and Agora EU and getting partial general approaches on these files. And this made Europe proud, and it made Cyprus proud. For my part, I look forward to continue working with council, with ministers, and more broadly with cultural and support communities even under the most difficult circumstances. Thank you, commissioner. Now I will open the floor for questions. We'll start from here.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Thank you. Chair Malta understands Lithuania's concerns regarding the dairy sector and recognizes the economic and structural pressures faced by farmers. Similar challenges affect small and island based farming, including high cost for feed, transport, energy, and regulatory compliance. These pressures are intensified by limited economies of scale and geographic constraints. Traditional and small scale farmers are especially vulnerable to prolonged instability. In this regard, Malta underlines the importance of a flexible common agricultural policy that reflects these realities and supports resilience, generation renewal and sector viability while ensuring a balanced policy and safeguard sustainability, food security, rural communities and cultural heritage.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Maltese and Godstone farmers, too welcomed with appreciation the proposal to find alternative products before removing Pesticides from the market. Furthermore, Malta agrees with the way the vision looks at trade agreements with third countries. Malta recognises that in the interest of the Union's food supply and food security, to have access to products from third countries. However, Malta recognises the importance to step up the union's response to further strengthen controls on imported products and at the union itself, should be more sensitive and continue protecting the competitiveness of European producers during trade agreement negotiations. Moving on to the second question, we we understand that the the primary role of our farmers is to produce food, and this should remain a crucial point in the next cap. While Malta agrees in principle that alternative means of income should be found for our producers, we note that many of the proposals may be restrictive in countries like Malta, where land is so scarce. Furthermore, Malta believes that if we truly want to encourage our farmers to try different practices, the new cap, we need to go beyond the concept of foregone income and incentivize farmers to take the risk of changing their practices. Regarding the third question, Malta believes that the agricultural sector needs a transformation towards generational renewal, sustainability and digitalisation, where innovation is a common element. We also welcome a number of measures proposed in this vision, including specific strategies for the bioeconomy, generational renewal and water resilience. These are crucial to ensuring the long term sustainability of agricultural and food systems. Finally, Malta looks forward to seeing and contributing to how the ambitions of this vision will be realized and implemented in practice. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “(18:15:46 – 18:17:00): My my my reply on this can be quite direct and quite short. Any conversation, any communication that we have with stakeholders, whether it's government or any other party remains confidential. But I can confirm that there was communication, and there is communication that is ongoing. And so far as the potential tools that we will use, we will explore using all leverage that we have, both on this issue but also on other issues beyond the cultural sector. And then on the position taken by minister Julie, I appreciate very much the fact that the minister has been firm and strong in his communication, also not attending the opening of the Biennale. And I I I really appreciate the fact that he was so clear in in this respect, although I note with regret that this has not been the stance for other ministers in the Italian government. Again, my position on this is aligned with that of the wider cultural community and member states and council today who spoke quite clearly on this issue. Minister, you wanna add something?”
  EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood
• “Having said this, [00:23:00] and in the spirit of compromise, we believe that the text before us is a balanced one and a good basis for negotiations with the European Parliament. We do agree with ambition, but it needs to be reasonable and workable thereby without destabilizing the market and current investment plans. Projects on renewable energy are of utmost priority for our national energy security, and to our contribution to climate neutral of the EU by 2050. [00:23:30] For Malta to move forward in clean tech, foreign direct investment is fundamental and we need to ensure that the regulatory framework is predictable and stable. Moreover, we positively note the articles on sandboxes, and we would like to take this opportunity to inquire when guidelines in this case will be published. Another important political point for Malta has been the issuance of sustainable alternative [00:24:00] fuels and the related ramp up for the aviation and maritime sectors. This is an essential element directly related to our connectivity with the single market. Finally, I would like to thank you, Jordi and your team, both in Madrid and in Brussels, who are handling this critical dossier in such a professional manner. They are following up on the realities of both large and smaller member states to find a balance in the text. And therefore, once again, I would like [00:24:30] to congratulate all for the hard work. Thank you. **Spain @Chair [00:24:34] Thank you. Silvio. Next we have Dara from Ireland.”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector · Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• “Dear Chair. Thank you. Malta welcomes the directive on soil monitoring and resilience that has been proposed. Malta understands the need of an EU wide, harmonised system to address the problem of soil degradation. However, we must also acknowledge the possible difficulty [00:27:30] in implementing certain parts of the Directive due to the specific characteristics and small scale heterogeneity of the Maltese soil. Thus, we believe it will be challenging to create an effective policy for our farmers to meet the obligations under this Directive. For this reason, we encourage you to evaluate the impact of this legislation on our farmers, as well as to study how to establish [00:28:00] and implement soil contamination criteria for effective live monitoring and evaluation. One such challenge challenge will be the administrative burden for small scale farmers that might mean or might have knock on effects on food security and affordability. Maltese soil is very susceptible to erosion. Thus, national specificities and agroclimatic [00:28:30] and geological characteristics must be considered when establishing criteria necessary for healthy soil. On your second question, we already have implemented various principles to protect our soil. Our national legislation stipulates that any soil related activity requires certification and our competent authorities carry out the necessary monitoring. The cap is another instrument [00:29:00] that helps us protect our soil, namely the agri environmental climate. Climate conditions, eco schemes and the good agricultural and environmental conditions. The guy see to protect soil using eco schemes, farmers can draw up soil management plans designed by a technical and qualified person and recognized by competent authorities. Furthermore, we have established farm [00:29:30] advisory services so that researchers and farmers can can jointly develop new agricultural practices. The aim of this project is to publish the first local integrated pest management program for five main crops. We also offer the services of the Agricultural Services Laboratory, where soil samples are examined for organic material. Lastly, [00:30:00] Motta acknowledges the importance of this proposal to sustainably manage soil. However, let's make sure not to negatively impact food security. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you. Colleagues. I would like to share with you the very serious situation our country went through last week due to extreme weather conditions. Heavy storms, heavy rainfall and winds exceeding 100km/h have had a devastating impact on the agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture sectors, with damage spread throughout the country. In the field of agriculture, damage of two crops, greenhouses, rubble walls and irrigation systems are putting at risk our long term production and our food security. At the same time, the impact of this storm has also affected the fisheries and aquaculture sectors where our operators have suffered extensive damages on vessels, equipment, ports, fish farms with a direct loss to their income. These events clearly show that extreme weather conditions driven by climate change are no longer an exception in the Mediterranean. Malta therefore calls the European Solidarity, calls for European solidarity and more flexibility in the existing regulatory framework, including the state aid and the use of financial instruments. At the same time, it is also essential to address persistent challenges related to risk management instruments and crisis interventions, which, as we have already reiterated, are often inadequate for our country. Therefore, my call is for more coordinated work at union level to be able to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural and fisheries sector and better protect the livelihoods of our farmers and fishermen. Thank you very much.”
  Agricultural funding · Funding for fisheries and aquaculture
• “Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. And also, many thanks to you and your team for all the work you have put into the package where we support the ambition underpinning it. Strengthening the Siu and deepening market integration are essential to mobilise capital and sustain growth across the union. And at the same time, the supervisory framework must remain targeted, proportionate and anchored in clear principles. Firstly, we would favour a more balanced and focused approach. Direct supervision should remain limited to significant market infrastructures where systemic and cross-border relevance is clearest. In this context, crypto asset service providers should remain under national supervision for the time being. The existing framework is still recent and should be allowed to prove its effectiveness while supervisory Reconvergence continues to be strengthened. Secondly, the definition of significance should be clear, objective and linked to cross border relevance and systemic impact. It should rely primarily on quantitative indicators such as transaction volumes and union level market share, complemented by qualitative factors like interconnectedness and sustainability. This would ensure as much role would remain focused on genuinely systemic infrastructures. Thirdly, on governance, we believe that clarity on roles and decision making is essential. We encourage careful reflection on the proposed Executive Board, particularly regarding the concentration of discretionary powers. The framework must respect established principles on delegation and preserve the right institutional balance. The Board of Supervisors should remain central and any executive structure should support not replace that role. Finally, we would favor a joint supervisory model based on partnership between ESMA and national authorities rather than hierarchy. This would minimise costs, avoid duplication and make the best use of existing supervisory capacity. Thank you.”
  Financial regulation
• “Thank you. Chair. Molto supports the objectives of the Industrial Accelerator Act. We acknowledge that this framework aims to provide stronger demand signals and greater investment certainty. However, as a small, open and highly trade dependent economy, concerns remain regarding its effectiveness in practice, the cumulative burden of new measures alongside existing obligations under other frameworks such as the Net Zero Industry Act, risks overstretching administrative capacity and increasing compliance costs. Impacts are also likely to differ across sectors. While some operators may benefit from stronger demand signals, others, particularly those that are reliant on imported inputs, may face increased and disproportionate pressures. Further clarity is also required as to how union origin requirements will be defined and applied in practice, so as to avoid legal uncertainty and unintended impacts on established trade agreements. In addition, it must be ensured that measures on foreign investment and value added requirements remain proportionate and consistent with the competences under the treaties. Malta recognises that targeted European preference and low carbon criteria in public spending can help drive demand for cleaner industrial products, providing important signals for investment and decarbonisation. With that said, the effectiveness of such criteria will depend primarily on how they interact with market realities in terms of competition and existing administrative capacities. For Malta's perspective, Active, overly restrictive origin requirements or rigid exclusions of third country suppliers risk reducing competition, increasing costs and placing a disproportionate burden on smaller member states that rely significantly on global value chains. Malta, therefore, stresses the need to strike the right balance between ambition and proportionality. Thank you.”
  "Buy European" provisions
• “Thank you, Madam President. We thank the Commission and the presidency for all your efforts since our last discussion in July. We stand behind the presidency's ambition to present the first complete draft of the negotiation box by December. On your first question, predictability and responsiveness must be balanced. Expanding the single margin and flexibility instrument without limits undermines a core reason for having an MFF. That being to provide predictability, appropriate limits to these special instruments needs to be introduced. Regarding simplification in general, it would be preferable to place new agencies under heading four to align with the new consolidated structure of the MFF, rather than splitting them between headings one and two. Then, on the second question, we agreed with the presidency's approach to having structured and focused discussions. However, heading two cannot be viewed in isolation, especially as it will have very large budget increases. While areas like cohesion policy are seeing major reduction in real terms. We will have one of the largest decreases in total cohesion and agricultural funding under heading one. Whilst our national plan will get the lowest EU financing rate, will also have one of the largest proportional increases in own resources and not much to balance this out under heading two due to our geophysical realities, accessing direct funding remains difficult, even though recently, after huge efforts since accession, we have made significant progress in areas like horizon one to move forwards and not backwards. We appreciate the recently added reference in the negotiation box to SMEs and small mid-caps, which require very particular attention to tap into the newly created European Competitiveness Fund. However, if the ECF and horizon are meant to enhance excellence and competitiveness for all Member States across the union, then this too must be addressed horizontal in the negotiation box to reinforce European competitiveness. We need to avoid a situation where excellence ends up meaning geographical concentration. And finally, regarding connecting Europe, facility interconnectivity is vital given our insularity. So the role of CEF in connecting peripheral member States should be duly recognised in the negotiation box. Thank you.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Thank you, chair. Firstly, I'd like to start by expressing our appreciation for all the work and progress you've achieved on the various files that you have mentioned. Specifically, the ECF, we welcome the presidency's efforts to find a compromise on joint priority setting and the linkages with Horizon Europe, which go in the right direction. More broadly, we underline the importance of the excellence principle and the needs to apply it fully across the union. To strengthen competitiveness throughout the EU, access to the fund must be effective and inclusive. We therefore support measures that improve access to competitive calls for less experienced entities with a special focus on SMEs, remain the backbone of the EU economy. Thank you.”
  EU-level coordination of research agendas
• “Thank you. Chair. As the Minister has already said this morning, I would like to show solidarity to Portugal. Malta, thanks, Portugal for this initiative and for the discussion on the. Risk management. The recent climatic events, including storm in the Mediterranean region, showed that climate related risks have become a structural challenge for agricultural production across the entire union for small and exposed member states such as Malta. The impact is immediate and places significant pressures on farmers and on national resources, As we already did at the January Council, Malta stresses the need to consider mechanisms to address market failures, particularly where private insurance does not cover systemic risk. So I would like to encourage the community to facilitate further discussions with the aim of finding solutions that can limit the impact of the damage being suffered by farmers across the union.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you. Chair. Malta would like to thank the Spanish Presidency for the work carried out aimed at reaching these conclusions for the long term vision for the EU's rural areas. As we have always insisted, Malta's realities are rather different [00:29:30] to the rest of the EU. And the challenges faced by our rural areas are also very different to those faced by other member states. This is due to our country's size, which results in geographic proximity between urban and rural areas, which naturally enjoy the same services and which cannot be considered remote. We therefore believe that any policy or funding programme which will be developed for the future should [00:30:00] further build on these conclusions and should recognise the different realities of rural areas across the Union, including those of island member States like ours. Thank you.”
  Cohesion and rural funding
• “Thank you chair. And we wish to thank the delegations for raising this matter because their concerns are also our concern. It is my duty here to recall Malta's concerns that I have to say were highlighted throughout the negotiations on this file when it came to the various risks and loopholes leading to potential carbon leakage in the Mediterranean. And I remember the exact words during our discussion of June last year when we said that [00:37:00] the expected impacts go beyond the maritime sector, but are also substantially of a socioeconomic nature. And what I said back then holds on still today. Now, I must emphasise that over the years, Malta has consistently underlined its concern with the ramifications that taking action at the EU level to regulate a global industry such as shipping could have on the competitiveness of the maritime industry. Our member States and their people, and this is especially the case [00:37:30] in the Mediterranean Basin, where we experience close proximity to southern non-EU Mediterranean ports. And these concerns were also highlighted here throughout the negotiations on the EU, ETS, maritime and are in fact the very same concerns we made on other environmental files, such as the designation of the sulphur emission control area in the Mediterranean and more recently, the designation of the Mediterranean as a NOx emissions control area through [00:38:00] the IMO via the Barcelona Convention. Ensuring a level playing field in the Mediterranean has and always will be a challenge, and we need to cooperate and find tools to work and ensure a level playing field between all ports and at the same time meet our environmental targets. [00:38:18] Preliminary information that is coming forth is indicating that the desired effect of controlling emissions might not necessarily be achieved with what we have on [00:38:30] the table. I am saying this because this is not an issue of carbon leakage alone, but also a matter of competitiveness of European transhipment ports. And in these challenging times, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure connectivity. Freight movements and the security of supply of goods that is vital for all Member States, particularly islands, whilst ensuring the sustainability of the economy. So we support the call on the European Commission to give these concerns due urgent [00:39:00] attention, and we are ready to work with the Commission and the Member States to ensure that this situation is monitored closely, pre-empting negative repercussions from the outset to prevent that our economies do not suffer irreversible effects. And I ask the European Commission to consider carrying out a more detailed impact assessment to include more ports in third country states, especially in the Mediterranean, and the impact on member states like Malta that are on the periphery of the [00:39:30] European Union. And we are also open to identifying other avenues to resolve this serious matter, support industry in adapting to the challenges, and to mitigate risks in order to avoid carbon leakage, distorting the competition of ports in the Mediterranean basin. And we continue to urge for regional and global solutions within the International Maritime Organisation to address the decarbonisation of the maritime sector in order to ensure a truly global level playing field and a [00:40:00] reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• “Thank you. Chair. Extreme climate events are on the rise and therefore more efficient financial mechanisms must enter into force to tackle the difficult realities we are facing, particularly those faced by our farmers. Malta has long underlined the fact that the current framework and instruments to tackle the crisis, for example, brought about by climate change, are insufficient. Therefore, although we empathise with most of the arguments brought forward, we believe that concrete action is needed to address these crises. We also believe that we must exploit Europe's agricultural diversity to create united risk measures that strengthen resilience all over the continent. We support Portugal in asking the Commission to consider the importance of presenting an integrated strategy for risk management and climate crisis, which cover prevention and resilience aspects, as well as a rapid response to consequences on a territorial level, so as to continue strengthening the situation that farmers find themselves in in the light of climate change. Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you, Minister. Firstly, I would like to express our solidarity with Slovenia and Greece in view of the floods [00:25:00] that they experienced in August. It is now a reality that a part of the challenges that we are facing are due to the climate conditions which are also undermining food security and the agricultural sector. In the past we also experienced such floods and droughts and therefore we can perfectly understand the importance of showing such solidarity with these countries which are currently facing such challenges, including our neighbours in North Africa. Such challenges will become increasingly more common in the Mediterranean Mediterranean [00:25:30] future. Therefore, it is crucial that we strengthen our adaptation and mitigating measures to be able to face such situations.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you, Minister. Clearly, some of the challenges we are facing which are exacerbating the problem of food insecurity and threatening the entire agriculture sector are the result of adverse climate conditions. I'd like to express my solidarity with Portugal, Spain and France that have all experienced drought in recent months and with Italy that was hit by severe floods over the past years, Malta has not been immune to the effects of climate change and we too have had our fair share of droughts and flooding. So we believe it is essential and only right for us to support countries that have been experiencing climate related challenges in recent years. Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you, president. And I'd like to thank our Romanian colleagues for presenting this motion. Malta supports the request put forward by Romania because the Maltese producers are going through the same situation. As explained previously, this disruption is having negative consequences for farmers across the union. Therefore, Malta agrees that the aid mechanism should be triggered in order to alleviate the burdens being borne by these producers and to ensure that the pig sector remains a viable one. Thank you very much.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Global protectionist trends and expanding cbam downstream risks further increasing costs and ultimately vehicle prices, which is particularly concerning for Malta as it relies significantly on imported vehicles. To this effect, Malta underlines the importance of grounding Europe's industrial transformation in cost effective low carbon energy solutions, proportionate regulation and efficient single market and policies that also address the distinct requirements of small and island economies. Strategic autonomy should be balanced with competitiveness and a stable investment climate, ensuring that we maintain an attractive destination for investment. For these reasons, we believe that the European preference approach must be limited in scope to the most strategic sectors to avoid unnecessary disruptions to our economies engaged in global trade. We must also ensure that the principles and commitments under the WTO and our trade agreements are not undermined, as we continue to firmly believe in the importance of competition and open trade on the international level, which has been a key contributor to the success of European industry over the years. Thank you.”
  Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• “Thank you very much. Thank you. First of all, Ernest, and thank you also to the Commissioner. Thank you for taking this on, and I'm sure that we will be moving forward. Thank you for bringing to the fore this discussion regarding ways of improving the working conditions of artists and other cultural practitioners. This is a [00:41:00] recurring theme for which flexible approaches are needed. With no feasible one size fits all solution. We too agree that the cultural and creative sectors are important not only in terms of the product and services offered, but also as an economic factor of ever increasing proportion. Indeed, statistics show the sector's size, as well as its tenacity and resilience, kept growing even in the face [00:41:30] of a protracted pandemic and detrimental economic effects that followed. And it is also the whole sector that we need to take into account, not just artists. There's a big diversity in this workforce, and the diversity and flexibility is crucial in order to move forward. Also because it is very difficult to [00:42:00] regulate the working conditions in this sector, we believe that there needs to be incentives for the professionals in the sector. Also, due to more flexible working arrangements, Malta managed to do this by adopting by enacting a new tax system for 7.5 income tax system for artists [00:42:30] starting in 2022. This was coupled with a mechanism that incentivized artists. Also, opportunities for funds to encourage artists, producers and promoters in the pursuit of their artistic goals. As a result of these measures, the number of people employed in the culture and creative sectors in Malta more than doubled over the past decade, and by 13% [00:43:00] in one year alone. And so, in light of this, we believe that we need the flexibility that is needed to ensure that this sector recovers and we have to leave freedom to give freedom to the artists to work in the way that they best deem possible. Also, all the while ensuring artistic freedom. Thank you.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Global protectionist trends and expanding cbam downstream risks further increasing costs and ultimately vehicle prices, which is particularly concerning for Malta as it relies significantly on imported vehicles. To this effect, Malta underlines the importance of grounding Europe's industrial transformation in cost effective low carbon energy solutions, proportionate regulation and efficient single market and policies that also address the distinct requirements of small and island economies. Strategic autonomy should be balanced with competitiveness and a stable investment climate, ensuring that we maintain an attractive destination for investment. For these reasons, we believe that the European preference approach must be limited in scope to the most strategic sectors to avoid unnecessary disruptions to our economies engaged in global trade. We must also ensure that the principles and commitments under the WTO and our trade agreements are not undermined, as we continue to firmly believe in the importance of competition and open trade on the international level, which has been a key contributor to the success of European industry over the years. Thank you.”
  Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• “Global protectionist trends and expanding cbam downstream risks further increasing costs and ultimately vehicle prices, which is particularly concerning for Malta as it relies significantly on imported vehicles. To this effect, Malta underlines the importance of grounding Europe's industrial transformation in cost effective low carbon energy solutions, proportionate regulation and efficient single market and policies that also address the distinct requirements of small and island economies. Strategic autonomy should be balanced with competitiveness and a stable investment climate, ensuring that we maintain an attractive destination for investment. For these reasons, we believe that the European preference approach must be limited in scope to the most strategic sectors to avoid unnecessary disruptions to our economies engaged in global trade. We must also ensure that the principles and commitments under the WTO and our trade agreements are not undermined, as we continue to firmly believe in the importance of competition and open trade on the international level, which has been a key contributor to the success of European industry over the years. Thank you.”
  Free trade agreements (FTAs) · Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• “Chair, Malta shares the concerns about the risk of possible disruption of supplies and also the risk of Europe losing competitive edge when it comes to medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic [00:17:00] medical devices. However, I have to put this out that on the ground at the moment, there is a lack of effective regulation which is leaving our patients to a certain extent, unprotected. I have been attending these council meetings for the last ten years. This is probably my 20th epsco, and if you consider The Informers is probably my 40th meeting, and I as far as far back as I can recall, we have been discussing this medical devices regulation at [00:17:30] least for ten years, and we cannot postpone this indefinitely. We are our patients at the moment are unprotected, so we urgently need, and I urge that we urgently need to get a dialogue between all stakeholders, industry, regulators, Commission and Member States to to to get to the bottom of this, because postponing it indefinitely is not protecting our patients to the extent that they deserve.”
  Medical devices
• “Thank you chair. Malta recognizes the value of the Steel and Metals Action Plan in enhancing the Union's strategic autonomy and contributing towards industrial resilience. At the same time. Caution should be exercised to ensure that the measures are calibrated and proportionate, in line with the interests of downstream industry. A core pillar of our economy's balance is required to avoid an excessive cumulative impact of different measures and policies on sectors such as manufacturing and construction, particularly on SMEs, including in higher costs for Maltese industry and consumers. Energy affordability continues to represent a significant challenge, underscoring the need for more robust EU level mechanisms to guarantee access to competitively priced, low carbon electricity. This comparative disadvantage must be tackled to ensure the viability of the union's energy intensive industries. Eu level solutions must also ensure that smaller member states are not placed at a systemic competitive disadvantage, particularly as they are price takers in the global marketplace. On this note, we are especially attentive to the maiden Euro proposal in the upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act and the current discussions on the possible downstream application of Cbam. Turning to automotive, the package is important for European industry, but here too, implementation must remain proportionate without imposing excessive burdens on manufacturers across the supply chain.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “While food leftover in farmers markets will start to be converted to compost for farmers use. Incentives like this are the basis of the bioeconomy and we should continue to encourage such initiatives. We also believe that we need to go deeper and have a stricter policy. Also regarding the use of secondary products generated from agriculture like manure. We reiterate our position that the use of vinegar as a fertilizer can help us transition towards a circular economy, since this is a viable alternative that increases the supply of much needed fertilizers. This could also lessen the expenses for European farmers and reduce the European Union's dependence on third countries for fertilizers, but more discussions are required to ensure that there is a lesser impact on the environment. Regarding on how we can strengthen the products coming from the European Union's bioeconomy. This should be focused on the quality and the standards of the product. Like any other product, however, it's important to have a balance between the products from the bioeconomy and those that do not. I conclude by saying that the bioeconomy is important, especially in a context where food security and the reduction of waste is very important on a national and international Personal agenda, and it means that the agriculture and the economy should complement each other. Thank you.”
  Use of fertilisers · Food waste
• “Malta supports giving priority to animal welfare within the Commission's work programme for 2026, provided that the initiatives remain science based, feasible and proportionate, in particular for small member states. With regards to farming for animals for fair, Malta already prohibits this practice, and therefore supports Slovenia's call to assess the possibility of phasing out such practices progressively across the EU. However, we stress that while we agree that a transitional period should be granted, if a total ban on farming of animals for fur is introduced within the union, we do not agree that fur products should continue to have access to the internal market after such a ban enters into force. Thank you very much.”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• “Thank you Presidency for your work on all these files. I will be very brief and on the same wavelength of Italy and Portugal. I would like to simply focus on the Ten-t file where Malta believes that while the trans European network policy [00:19:00] should be revised to provide a reliable, seamless and high quality network ensuring adequate connectivity through the European Union, the revised proposal must not lose sight of the needs and the specificities of the different Member States in this period. Malta would like to once again highlight its main concerns, most notably as regards to the targets proposed by the European Parliament on the road transport infrastructure and the provisions relating to maintenance. We call on the current presidency and the incoming [00:19:30] one to safeguard the flexibilities of the general approach. Moreover, Malta believes that the proposal should go a step further and address the disproportionate implications of certain provisions and provide direct exemptions where there are natural limitations and constraints due to specific geographic characteristics without compromising road safety standards. Of course, with that, we look forward to making further advancement in the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “It also tends to be personalized in its approach, in that there is obviously the need for more employment, further education, and even with the technological changes which we are facing, we will need to both upskill and as well as reskill our workers. And here, yes, I do believe that the EU nationals, the EU anti-poverty strategy should be the same. It should be multifaceted. It should approach different issues. But above all, it must not be complacent in its approach. Ideally, ideally we should provide the rod for everyone to fish. But I think we need to go further and accept also that those who cannot go with the rod to fish, there is always a social security net which keeps people above a certain level of Conditions of living as a starting point. I would just say rather one thing that it is not a question. Tackling poverty and enhancing social exclusion is not a question of our political belief, but it is an integral part of human empathy and human solidarity. Thank you.”
  Minimum income harmonisation at EU level
• “Thank you president. Thank you Ireland, because they have taken the initiative to speak on this important point. Malta understands the concerns of member states affected by the unfair exploitation of common marine resources. Hence, in this regard, Malta reiterates the need for a level playing field and for harmonisation across regions which share the same resources. Failure to comply with scientific advice not only endangers the sustainability of fish stocks, but also places EU fisheries and local communities at a disadvantage, and it also puts their livelihoods at risk. Thank you very much.”
  Environmental regulation of fisheries
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. Malta remains particularly exposed and affected by disruptions in the fertilizer market given that we rely on imports for fertilizers and other key agricultural inputs. This high level of dependency, combined with our reliance on maritime transport and external supply chains, results in significant cost increases driven by elevated energy and shipping prices, limited economies of scale and restricted storage capacity. As a result, our farming sector is highly sensitive to price volatility. From Malta's perspective, the measures outlined in the 2022 Commission communication on fertilizer availability and affordability remain broadly valid. However, these need to be better tailored to the realities of small island member states characterized by limited agricultural land, high import dependency, water scarcity, and logistical constraints. In this context, the priority should extend beyond securing supply and focus on building a more resilient, resource efficient, and circular agricultural system suited to Malta's geographical and environmental constraints. Additional measures should focus more on protecting farmers from short term price and supply shocks, improving supply chain resilience, accelerating circular nutrient recovery and sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, timely access to EU level data on fertilizer price developments, trade flows and supply risks is crucial to anticipate market developments. This enables more effective and proactive responses to evolving market conditions as short, medium and long term effects. On the second question, Malta sees particular value in reinforcing supply resilience through EU level solutions. This can be achieved by promoting the use of alternative and recycled nutrient sources as well as diversifying fertilizer supply chains through stronger EU level coordination to reduce exposure to geopolitical and transport disruptions. At the same time, continued investment in innovation and climate adaptation remains essential. This is particularly pertinent for Mediterranean contexts, where there's a need for targeted solutions such as water efficient agriculture, climate resilient crops and sustainable soil management. In parallel, it is important to reduce the regulatory complexity and compliance requirements that currently constrain the wider uptake by producers and users while ensuring greater policy coherence across agriculture, energy and environmental frameworks. Finally, we would like to thank the European Commission for the publication of the long awaited fertilizer action plan. Our initial reaction is that the measures proposed are positive, but shall require strong EU financial support, technical capacity and policies, which will need to be adapted specifically to small island realities. We look forward to having further in-depth discussions on how to implement this plan to the benefit of the union's farming sector. Thank you, Madam Chair.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. I think, first and foremost, we must always keep in mind that poverty is not a question of choice. Whatever form that poverty may take. Uh, indeed, no one would choose to remain in poverty if one had the opportunity to move out of poverty. The the causes of poverty might be diverse and often complicated. Might be lack of education. Today we talk of lack of digital skills, increasingly mental health issues, vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, as well as people who are suffering to chronic illnesses or even terminal illnesses at times. In reality, I would rather say I believe at least that there will always be a portion of our society, which will not participate at the same rate of others, and that economy's wealth. And this is where we must step in. This is where we must intervene to enhance inclusion, enhance social justice, and above all, provide adequate standard of living to all, be it in education, be it in housing, be it in whatever other issues. It is something which we need to do in a multifaceted approach. In our case, our national anti-poverty strategy, of which covers the years 2025 to 2035, takes a multifaceted approach.”
  Child poverty policy
• “Thank you, president. While we acknowledge that there are several positive elements in the new proposals that contribute to food security, unfortunately it seems that in many cases a one size fits all approach is being taken, and this fails to take into account the different and specific realities of small member states, such as Malta. The proposal on uniformity in the level of area based payments is a clear example of this shortcoming. The proposed rates for basic income are too low, and this, when compared to the difficulties faced by our farmers. Farmers in Malta face major constraints, including lack of access to land, lack of rainfall and water, and the small size of their fields. In addition, they face higher production costs linked to the fact that we are an island with geophysical constraints. Therefore, more flexibility is needed to adapt the level of support appropriately to the national context. We do this with the aim of farmers continuing to receive at least the basic income level they currently receive. Now, as regards coupled income support, I note with disappointment that once again, the proposal does not cover the particular characteristic characteristics of Malta. Given the necessity of such support given to sectors vital to local agriculture, we call for arrangements similar to those we have in the current EAP. These would allow countries with a small financial allocation to go beyond the proposed limits, and therefore allocate adequate support under these essential interventions.”
  Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
• “Thank you. Chair. We thank the presidency for having once again put this discussion on the agenda. Thank you, Commission, for all the work already done. However, there is always room for further improvement. We see. Simplification and the reduction of administrative burden as an important point. Not only for us, but also for the Commission's policy. We must therefore work together to see what can be done to further improve. Our policy for all involved, both now and in the future. The architecture of the Cap strategic plan must be more cohesive because. In our experience, we found implementation problematic. We see the need for more flexibility between the pillars of the cap. During implementation, and that this framework must be adapted to the. Different realities of Member States. Malta highlights the importance of ambitious environmental and climate. Goals. But we strongly believe that these must be balanced with those of agricultural production so as to maintain the sustainability of the sector and food security. The current payment per hectare model is not delivering the desired results, so we call for the introduction of alternative mechanisms that really encourage an effective change in farmers practices. Malta also recognises the value of the N plus three rule to ensure that Cap funds are not lost. We insist that the reporting process, especially in the annual performance report, should be simplified.”
  Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
• “Thank you. I thank Cyprus for taking the initiative and put this item on the agenda. The Mediterranean Mediterranean region faces major risks from climate change, including floods, prolonged droughts and soil degradation, Asian, which threaten agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. For this reason, together with our Med9 colleagues, we have called for a more comprehensive and holistic approach to address these challenges. Stronger support is needed through the Water Resilience Strategy to address these urgent issues and safeguard ecosystems, cultures and food systems. Thank you.”
  Water pollution
• “57:40 – 17:58:47): Thank you, chair. And, we also want to thank the French colleagues for raising this important topic. Molotov recognizes the importance of the interaction between EU, ETS, and Corsia. Given the global nature of aviation, international measures should remain at the core of our approach. In this respect, Malta emphasizes the importance of avoiding overlapping compliance obligations, including any future expansion of the EU ETS. Such overlaps could increase costs for EU operators, create competitive distortions vis a vis non EU carriers, and risk double charging for emissions. With the mandatory phase of Corsia only coming into effect in January of next year, we fear that the commission's findings due only next month may not fully reflect its impact. We therefore believe that the forthcoming evaluation should take this timing into account and provide a fair and balanced assessment. It is important that the EU sends a clear signal of its commitment to Corsia and continues to support it as a key multilateral achievement in international aviation climate policy. Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector
• “These integrated efforts would not only strengthen the resilience of our labor markets, but also ensure that Europe's transitions are just inclusive and firmly grounded in the core values of the European Pillar of Social Rights. We strongly believe that social convergence must remain a key priority. Strengthening upward social convergence will provide a solid foundation for more effective and targeted policy making at the European level, ensuring initiatives are better aligned with the different needs of all Member States. The ongoing discussions on the Social Convergence framework have highlighted differing views between member states. Indeed, most will continue to insist that it is essential to avoid imposing additional administrative burdens on the Member States. Throughout these discussions, we have advocated for refining and improving existing mechanisms by building on their strengths, streamlining processes, and maximising their overall value. The evaluation of the pilot initiative demonstrates that there is still room for improvement, particularly in the methodology, to fully achieve its intended objectives and added value. Indeed, it is imperative to further refine the provisional approach. Ideally one agreed upon by all member States, so it aligns more effectively with diverse realities faced by all of us, thus delivering a greater impact. We need to avoid duplication and improve efficiency and effectiveness. A possible idea could be the creation of a new social convergence network, composed of member state experts and funded by the Commission. This would enhance coordination and collaboration, laying the groundwork for a more robust and efficient framework to support upward social convergence in future European semester cycles. Thank you.”
  European Semester (social dimension)
• “Thank you. Chair. I would like to thank the Commission for the two proposals that will help farmers strengthen their position within the food chain. It is important that we continue with our efforts so that farmers have a just and fair income to address the current lack of balance and better protect farmers against unfair trade practices. We agree with initiatives that give better value to products such as those belonging to the short supply chain. This is one way of supporting and promoting local products. We also believe that this is a good opportunity for small scale farmers, who have limited potential to export and compete with big companies, as this gives them the opportunity to advertise their product better. It is important that this process is a transparent one. In order to avoid incorrect use of these terms and to ensure that customers always get reliable information. We also agree on the modality of how contracts between the producer and the buyer are carried out. Thanks to this, we will decrease abuse that impacts small farmers. We agree with strengthening the voice of farmers within the food chain. And we believe that this should be done through a legal framework that is effective for everyone. While we agree fully with the proposal for further simplification and the recognition of producer organisations and better incentive incentives, this should not be carried out at the expense of those countries that, for some reason or other, have very few recognised organisations. On the proposal on cross-border enforcement against Utps, we agree on the framework. Proposed strong mechanisms for information exchange and investigations are crucial to address and mitigate challenges brought about by such practices. We look forward for further discussions on the two proposals that strengthen the position of farmers within the food chain from a wider perspective. Thank you.”
  EU policy on farmer–buyer relations in the agri-food supply chain
• “Thank you, Madam President. Malta supports Estonia's proposal for a more balanced and holistic approach in decisions concerning active substances and plant protection products, including a mandatory assessment of socio economic sustainability where effective alternatives do not exist. We must also take into account the realities of Member States where limited market size due to size and geographical constraints like those in Malta, restrict access to authorised products and innovative solutions. Any reform, therefore, must ensure that the viability of agriculture, food security and the competitiveness of farmers are not disproportionately compromised. Separately, Malta supports high standards of food safety and environmental protection. But like Poland, we have serious reservations about extending the definition of use to include the sowing of treated seeds. This would create new registration and training obligations, resulting in a disproportionate administrative burden on small scale farmers. Thank you.”
  EU policy on pesticides
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. We think that it is imperative that the Council and the Member States maintain strong political ownership on the budget, as well as on the governance of the programmes, while avoiding unnecessary administrative burden, particularly on small administrations. A first step is to ensure steering by the European Council through setting minimum financial resources per pillar in the European Competitiveness Fund and for regions and migration in global Europe. While we understand the Commission's intention to use the steering mechanism to provide stronger governance for a more flexible budget, we continue to have reservations on the mechanism and remain unconvinced about its practical implications. We also remain concerned about how the institutional balance will be ensured and safeguarded. These concerns are further amplified in the case of the NRP, where we prefer the current governance model for shared management funds, which has worked very well over the past decades. Thank you.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “Thank you, Madam Chair, for this important discussion, particularly in the light of the current geopolitical developments which continue to increase pressure on several sectors related to agriculture as well as on the fisheries sector in Europe. Malta believes that the transition towards sustainable energy in the fisheries sector must be realistic. The core of support to fleets and fishermen should be flexible in order to address the operational realities of our fleet, as well as market volatility. At present, fully carbon neutral technologies are not yet available, particularly for small scale vessels, which are a pillar of our artisanal sector. Therefore, there is also a need for greater regulatory flexibility, focusing on efficiency improvements and the gradual adoption of technology. At the same time, Malta stresses the need to ensure a level playing field. We insist that against this background, European fishermen should not be disadvantaged compared to fleets from third countries. The principle of a level playing field should be reflected in concrete terms, including through equivalent standards for imports. In this regard, Malta encourages the Commission to further strengthen the fisheries policy framework within Rfmos, such as Gfcm, in order to ensure that all our efforts are not undermined by lower standards applied by third countries.”
  Environmental regulation of fisheries
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to thank the European Commission for the extensive work carried out to implement this vision. Malta acknowledges the progress achieved during the first year of the implementation, and considers that overall developments across its four priorities have been positive. This first year has clearly demonstrated the importance of avoiding a one size fits all approach, which is not practical when considering the diverse agricultural realities across the union. The realities of small, fragmented and structurally constrained agricultural systems must be taken into account in the context of the future cap architecture. We also recognize the initiatives undertaken with regard to simplification, in particular through the simplification package of the current Common Agricultural Policy adopted in December 2025. However, we are disappointed that this package failed to address the complexity of risk management and compensation tools in the context of crisis. As such, every European farmer should be able to benefit from these crucial forms of support. If these tools are further simplified for smaller and more vulnerable member states such as Malta, the availability of workable crisis and and risk management tools is a key condition for agricultural resilience. Furthermore, recent conflicts and geopolitical tensions are having a direct impact on the sector by creating logistical challenges in global supply chains and increasing transport related costs. All of this is, of course, leading to greater market volatility. Therefore, we believe that the vision should be strengthened and adjusted in light of current realities. In order for the union's agri food sector to remain stable, competitive and resilient. In conclusion, Madam Chair, I would like to appeal for recognition that while the progress achieved under the vision is indeed positive, it must be accompanied by a policy framework that allows sufficient flexibility to address national realities and safeguard the viability of farming in different territorial contexts. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you. Malta believes that advances in biotechnological technologies, such as NGS, can provide innovative solutions and create new tools for farmers and for the entire agricultural sector, with the aim of increasing the resilience and sustainability of the sector. In view of this, we are in favour of the valorization of agricultural products as well as investment in research and in production. However, we want to emphasize the need for new technologies which must be accessible and affordable for farmers and small scale producers. In this context, we want to ensure that the legislation should always be drafted in such a way that it addresses the specific challenges that countries face. It is important that we continue to work constructively to ensure that the opportunities created by new technologies are accessible to all. Thank you.”
  New Genomic Techniques
• “Thank you chair. I would like to start by wishing Oliver every success in his future work in such an important sector. We would like to thank the Hungarian presidency for their work on this proposal. We believe that the work carried out on this legislation, on the transportation of animals, reflects the EU's will to improve animal welfare standards. In this context, we would like to highlight that in order to move forward, we need to adopt a balanced approach that does not impose unnecessary burdens on the agricultural sector. We look forward to contribute further under the Polish presidency. Thank you.”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• “04:56 – 10:07:16): and thank you very much. I would like to thank 1st of all you, Nicodemus, for the way you led so that there would be a revision of the text and also to be able respect the various, pleas from other member states. In the Council of December, as a country, I had mentioned that we very much, agree with the European business wallet and Malta, in fact, fact was in an advanced state to implement this, business wallet of ours. And I am pleased to see last month that we started the business wallet in our country and it is working. It is therefore why, because we had this experience as we had certain concerns as to how certain details may be changed in the implementation of this business wallet. And therefore, we also, form part of the joint statement with Estonia to see how this idea could be also bettered, improved and at the end of the day could reach its aims. We believe that this is a very good idea. And therefore, as a country, we agree with the general approach so that we may proceed in point of fact to the conclusion with this presidency, but we believe with a little bit of betterment, the we agree obviously with the aims and therefore we could reach our aims better. The implementation, the reasons that why we should keep competence on which entities and when they will form part of the business wallet and this we are doing as I said, because we have a bit of experience as to how we arrived at this conclusion. I think that the vice president gave a very good definition of where we wish to arrive to make things easier and not duplication. And therefore, I think this principle, if we all agree with it and keep on this track, we should be able to have a principle of the business world which will be efficient and which would reach its goals. Thank you. Silvio.”
  Electronic identity
• “Thank you, Minister. Thank you for this discussion. Our size and the [00:12:30] closeness between rural and urban areas means a different reality from other countries. When we talk about digital connectivity and internal logistics, however, we are being affected by realities that are also affecting the rest of Europe. An ageing population, the decrease in the number of farmers and infrastructure. Apart from socio demographic trends, many of our challenges are due. To the limited land available. [00:13:00] All these factors are increasing pressure on our food security and also increase the dependency on imported food. Another challenge for Malta is finding a balance between economic development and trying our best not to keep taking up more agricultural land. For this reason, we relaunched a reform a few months ago on the renting of agricultural land with the aim of protecting farmers rights and preserving agriculture. Agricultural [00:13:30] land. Rural areas are also supported thanks to measures or interventions from the Programme for Rural Development, the Leader programme, as well as the Strategic plan of the Cap. Direct aid to the farmers remains an important source to keep our agricultural sector viable. Together with this, awareness raising is also crucial and this is being carried out by the Farm extension services where farmers are being given training on how [00:14:00] to use natural resources better. In answer to your second question on an EU level. [00:14:08] More support and more flexibility in financial instruments for farmers and other actors in rural areas can be considered as important tools in order to reach the common and strategic goals of the long term vision for rural areas. Thanks to targeted investments for processing and storing, economic opportunities are [00:14:30] created for the food chain and for strengthening local food security. The Cap is a very important financial instrument. This will help in attracting more young farmers and also fosters investment for more modern infrastructure and the digitalization of the sector. Other instruments EU instruments ensure investment targeting many goals, particularly ecological and social goals. [00:15:00] Eu financing should be strengthened through state aid where needed. Therefore, we would like to reiterate the need for more flexibility in this regard, and schemes like the temporary crisis framework need to be extended on a national level. We are carrying out projects to identify the best use of water, fertilizers and pesticides, pesticides in consultation with actors. It is also important that definition of rural areas takes into account specificities [00:15:30] specificities of each member state. In mentioning this, in light of Malta's characteristics, rural areas are not considered remote, and those living in rural areas have the same access to services as people living in urban areas. Thank you.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. I think, first and foremost, we must always keep in mind that poverty is not a question of choice. Whatever form that poverty may take. Uh, indeed, no one would choose to remain in poverty if one had the opportunity to move out of poverty. The the causes of poverty might be diverse and often complicated. Might be lack of education. Today we talk of lack of digital skills, increasingly mental health issues, vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, as well as people who are suffering to chronic illnesses or even terminal illnesses at times. In reality, I would rather say I believe at least that there will always be a portion of our society, which will not participate at the same rate of others, and that economy's wealth. And this is where we must step in. This is where we must intervene to enhance inclusion, enhance social justice, and above all, provide adequate standard of living to all, be it in education, be it in housing, be it in whatever other issues. It is something which we need to do in a multifaceted approach. In our case, our national anti-poverty strategy, of which covers the years 2025 to 2035, takes a multifaceted approach.”
  Minimum income harmonisation at EU level
• “Thank you, Madam Chair, for this important discussion, particularly in the light of the current geopolitical developments which continue to increase pressure on several sectors related to agriculture as well as on the fisheries sector in Europe. Malta believes that the transition towards sustainable energy in the fisheries sector must be realistic. The core of support to fleets and fishermen should be flexible in order to address the operational realities of our fleet, as well as market volatility. At present, fully carbon neutral technologies are not yet available, particularly for small scale vessels, which are a pillar of our artisanal sector. Therefore, there is also a need for greater regulatory flexibility, focusing on efficiency improvements and the gradual adoption of technology. At the same time, Malta stresses the need to ensure a level playing field. We insist that against this background, European fishermen should not be disadvantaged compared to fleets from third countries. The principle of a level playing field should be reflected in concrete terms, including through equivalent standards for imports. In this regard, Malta encourages the Commission to further strengthen the fisheries policy framework within Rfmos, such as Gfcm, in order to ensure that all our efforts are not undermined by lower standards applied by third countries.”
  Environmental regulation of fisheries
• “Thank you very much. In general, we welcome a strong and effective response against child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. The proposal is a concrete response towards further harmonisation of the legislative framework across the EU. Sexual abuse and exploitation, especially involving children, are serious crimes with irreversible damage to the victims. It is therefore crucial to ensure that such offences can be prosecuted long after they occur. Data shows that reporting by the victims happens long after the crimes are committed, due to the hesitation and trauma that the victims have to go through, and so we need to follow with an adequate response. Unfortunately, investigations are often delayed due to their complexity. Therefore, there is no doubt on our part towards the extension of the limitation periods for such offences. Long limitation periods will help in holding perpetrators accountable and support victims throughout the whole legal process, and by ensuring that justice can be done and and carried out. We agree that the limitation period should start from the age of majority of the child victim. On this note, Malta stresses the importance of adequate data retention laws and access to data to enable law enforcement authorities to carry out their tasks efficiently and adequately. Now on to the second question. We welcome the approach taken by the Commission in criminalising AI generated child sexual abuse material in the same manner as material depicting real children, based on the criterion of realistic content. We believe that in order to address this issue, we need to update laws to define and criminalise AI generated child sexual abuse material, including expanding definitions to cover AI created content. This, in turn will facilitate the tasks of the law enforcement authorities and their investigations, and the prosecution to be able to build a solid case against the perpetrators. Law enforcement and tech companies should also collaborate to create tools for detecting, detecting and combating AI generated child sexual abuse material, potentially using AI and machine learning for identification and removal, and training is also necessary in this regard. I am pleased to note that our criminal Code already penalizes AI generated child sexual abuse material. To conclude, we are open to further changes to strengthen our legislative framework. Thank you.”
• “Thank you, Chair. Malta acknowledges the potential of the proposed EU Inc. To strengthen the single market and support cross border activity. At the same time, the new framework must remain proportionate, contain robust safeguards and act complementary to existing systems. We emphasize the importance of preserving investor choice and that the 20 eighth regime remains an optional framework alongside national legislation when establishing a new company. In this context, we would support an approach whereby labor laws remain outside the scope of the regime, while matters relating to taxation and insolvency continue to fall within member state competence. Furthermore, appropriate safeguards must be in place to prevent misuse of the proposed regime. MOTA is cautious about a 0 capital model and favors either a nominal capital requirement or strengthened director liability rules to protect creditors and prevent the emergence of illicit shell structures. Similarly, governance flexibility should not come at the expense of minority shareholder protection or fundamental fiduciary duties. Malta supports digitalization and simplified procedures, including the proposed online incorporation. National registries and authorities must retain the ability to carry out thorough checks, including know your customer and ultimate beneficial owner verification with the possibility of intervention where necessary. Finally, for the regime to succeed in the long term, it should be implemented in a gradual and modular manner, supported by adequate financial instruments and ensuring uniform access across all member states. The objective is to build a trusted and balanced framework that enhances competitiveness while safeguarding the integrity of the single market. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you very much chair. For the hard work that has been put into the revision of the waste stream directive on textile waste. We appreciate that national, national specificities have been taken into account and that much needed flexibility for member states to exempt small social economy entities from reporting has been included in relation to food waste. We welcome that the presidency has taken on board the option for member states to identify an alternative baseline year beyond 2020, as well as the introduction of the two correction factors which are important for us. However, we must continue to have reservations on the proposed food waste reduction targets. Attaining these targets will be challenging and will require cultural shift in production demand and consumption patterns for which much more time is needed to assess the level of readiness for different sectors and stakeholders. For member states like Malta that have a high dependence on food imports, the ability to reduce food waste along certain supply chains is significantly constrained. Therefore, it is essential that the proposed food waste target are practical and attainable on the ground. Therefore, the joint per capita 2030 food waste reduction target for retail and other food distribution should account only for the edible parts of food waste. This is especially the case since there is limited scope for action on the inedible parts. While we congratulate the bread of the presidency providing us with a balanced general approach, we must underline that moving forwards. We will continue to reiterate the importance of finding a solution on the issue of avoidable versus unavoidable food waste in the context of the upcoming discussions with parliament and the Hungarian presidency. Thank you.”
  Food waste
• “It's fine. Don't worry. Thanks a lot. Um, the chemicals strategy for sustainability remains relevant as we continue to address key challenges in the sector, and motor recognises and welcomes the progress made so far, especially on the revised CLP regulation and the introduction of new hazard classes. The ban on remaining mercury uses, and the one substance, one assessment principle, we believe, are also positive steps forward, and we also joined the call to prioritize the reach review and to closely monitor the phase out of phase. Now, at the same time, it is clear that new challenges emerged since the strategy's adoption regulatory complexity, especially by way of new provisions on chemicals and substances of concern in legislative instruments such as the revised Ecodesign regulation, created difficulties for industries, in particular SMEs, and there are also innovation bottlenecks for green chemistry, with limited incentives to bring safer alternatives to the market. Moreover, emerging issues such as endocrine disruptors and the cumulative effects of low level chemical exposure require updated risk assessment frameworks to address delays and speed up implementation. Malta suggests fast tracking key regulatory revisions, particularly Krly reach, coupled with the provision of financial and technical support to SMEs, strengthening Erca with additional resources is also crucial to manage the increased workload, and we also believe that capacity building initiatives, including training and uptake of digital tools for compliance, should be offered to Member States and industry, particularly SMEs, to help and expedite the transition towards sustainable chemical practices. Thank you.”
  Chemicals regulation
• “Thank you. President. Malta fully understands the need for a proposal that addresses food waste through regulatory measures that help us in being more aligned with sustainability goals and international commitments. We believe that a comprehensive and effective strategy that includes regulatory areas setting clear targets should be adopted. There is, however, a need for more knowledge on technological innovation that can also be used as a vital tool to minimise food waste. On [00:24:30] a national level, food waste has been identified as an important component of the 2021 2030 Waste Management Plan for the medium and long term. The final aim is to reduce the amount of waste at all stages of the food supply chain. This plan lists a number of food waste prevention measures, such as awareness raising, as well as educational campaigns that further incentivise the concept [00:25:00] of food donation, among others. Malta has concerns about how the proposal requiring a reduction of food waste by 30% is implemented in the chain, and the distribution of food. We believe that these targets will have an impact on the tourism sector. Please keep in mind that the average consumption increases sharply due to the influx of tourists. [00:25:30] According to official figures, the number of tourists visiting Malta in a year is four times the total of Malta's population. I would like to conclude by saying that the proposal should always take into account the challenges faced by small businesses, in particular food producers and those involved in small scale processing. Thank you.”
  Food waste
• “Thank you very much. Chairman. I would like to thank the Polish presidency and the previous presidencies for taking these negotiations forward so swiftly. In light of the importance of this proposal for the Capital Markets Union. From our end, we can support the compromise text as it provides necessary flexibility for implementation at national level. Considering the moreover, the complexity of national insolvency regimes. Thank you very much.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you. Luis, I wish to thank you for the time and effort put in on this important file. Malta supports the overall ambition of this file and we recognize the opportunities that NTS can have. In allowing [00:07:00] for a more resilient European farming sector, as well as improving food security in the face of challenges such as climate change. Nevertheless, the proposal has created a specific issue for countries like Malta with its unique agricultural situation made up of tiny, fragmented and densely packed land parcels, which leads to issues of coexistence. Colleagues, the political decision has been taken to ban category one products [00:07:30] in the organic sector. Malta can go along with this decision, but all member states should have an equal opportunity to apply this according to their specificities. The reality is that the Maltese sector does not have the hectares of land necessary to apply the ban effectively. We cannot rely on seed labelling to prevent the presence of entities in organic farming on or on small islands like Malta. At the same time, Maltese consumers [00:08:00] and Maltese organic farmers should not be disadvantaged in comparison to continental counterparts, so long as the ban continues to apply in organic farming. We believe that a specific and targeted solution is needed, and we will continue to work constructively to find such a solution. This is a very important issue for Malta, as we are continuously investing heavily in developing and expanding our organic sector [00:08:30] in line with the objectives laid out in the Farm to fork strategy. The text. Also allows us to further emphasize. On the risk of monopolies and access to. Farmers of seeds material this will require. Ensuring that this technology will have no negative effect on this sector. Louis, I would like to thank [00:09:00] you, the Commission and Member States for understanding the particular specific difficulties of Malta on category Nt1. In the spirit of compromise, we believe that this is a good basis to continue discussing in the next steps to be taken on this dossier. Thank you.”
  New Genomic Techniques
• “Thank you very much, chair. Thank you for having put forward this issue for discussion. On the first question, we agree that animal and plant diseases are a serious threat to the food chain. Another challenge we are facing is climate change, which we are becoming ever more concerned about. It is leading to longer drought periods or to floods, which are in turn leaving huge losses and damages behind. For our farmers, there are various solutions with the most immediate one being that we ensure that there are enough funds allocated not only during a crisis, but also from before. We believe that long-term solutions include having more knowledge of agricultural practises which are better adapted to our climate in order to ensure the smallest possible impact for our ecosystem. Another reality we are facing as an island nation is that we depend greatly on imports and therefore the increase in prices, especially for feed, is hitting us quite hard. This is a complex challenge because our transport means are quite complex as well. This situation is turning out to be a big challenge for our farmers and our breeders. Therefore, we think that the cap funds should be more flexible. Another challenge is the fact that the average age of our farmers keeps rising. Therefore, as we have said many times, we need to continue to come up with new measures in order to encourage more young farmers to choose this profession. On the second question, we think that there are methods as to how we can improve the value of our products, and this can be achieved by different ways, including by providing more information about the quality of our products and how genuine our products are. We need to make sure that consumers are informed about the characteristics and benefits of our foodstuffs, including the taste or the origin of our food, or how fresh it is. The fact that it is produced with traditional methods or small scale farms and short supply chains, which have a very important role in protecting the environment and the climate, this leads to more sustainability and to better food chains for the benefit of our consumers. Maria,”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you, Mr. Chair. First and foremost, I'd like to thank Tesla for his work, and I'd like to wish him every success for his future. And I'd like to, um, congratulate the new Minister for Austria for his new role. Now, on the subject at hand, Malta would like to welcome the vision for agriculture and food. Because while it provides a blueprint for the future of the agricultural sector, it also addresses the many complaints and concerns of farmers which we have, which we feel have been considered and included in this vision. We acknowledge that the vision highlights the crucial point that we need to go beyond a one size fits all policy, and that we should consider the realities and contexts of the different agricultural sectors of each member state. Therefore, this point should be the basis of all our discussions. Malta agrees with the principle that the European producers should have prices that aren't lower than the cost of production. We believe that short chains also guarantee fair returns. This should lead to less harmful impact on the environment while making the sector more sustainable. Malta agrees that division recognizes that direct payments have a crucial role for secure incomes for farmers. We also agree with a simpler cap that does away with red tape, and that is based on the principle that financial assistance is given to those producers that mostly need it and that contribute to food security. Malta also recognises the intention to allow for more flexibility and responsibility to Member States on how they achieve the objectives under the cap, as well as enabling producers to adapt production practices depending on the context they operate in. These principles complement the positive concept that the new cap strikes a better balance between regulatory needs and incentive based policy that leads to achieve the changes needed in the agricultural sector.”
  Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
• “Thank you dear president. Malta recognises the potential of renewables and we do believe that it can serve as a key example to show the concept of a circular economy. Although renewable production is at the moment not taking place in Malta. We are considering its potential use for production, with the aim of complementing Malta's current restrictions on the application of natural fertilisers. The benefits for the use of renewable are many, specifically for those member States that have been classified as Nitrate Vulnerable zones, such as Malta, for instance. In this regard, I would like to express our full support with regards to the request made by the Dutch colleagues concerning the benefits in the use of renewables, and that this should be taken into account in the revision of the Nitrates Directive. Thank you very much.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “Grazie, maestro. Thank you, president. And thank you to the Slovenian delegation. Malt agrees on the importance of increasing animal welfare standards. It is important that measures can be implemented in every member state. Therefore, we need a certain degree of flexibility. In recent months, Malta has actively contributed [00:23:30] to the discussions on the new proposal for the regulation on the Welfare of Dogs and cats, and we are ready to contribute to the discussions on the proposal of the regulation on the Protection of Animals during transport. We look forward to working with our colleagues on this very important subject. Thank you.”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers