Updated 1145
Car Dealer Linked to Identità Racket Ordered to Pay €129,000 in Damages: Car dealer Bernard Attard, facing criminal charges in the Identità racket, has been ordered to pay €129,200 in damages plus €20,000 for a misappropriated mobile home after defrauding Adventure Camping and Leisure Co. Ltd and its director Vince Vella. The First Hall of the Civil Court found Attard misused €161,500 advanced by Vella, with part of the sum transferred to his father’s account. While claims against his parents were largely unproven, Calcedonio Attard must refund €32,300. The court ruled that Attard failed to settle fines, engage an architect, or honour agreements, leaving Vella uncompensated. (Times of Malta)
Malta’s ‘Demographic Crisis’ Requires Holistic Plan, NCPE says: The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) has urged Malta to adopt a comprehensive national strategy to tackle its record-low fertility rate, now the lowest in the EU at 1.06–1.08 births per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement level. The NCPE warned that financial incentives alone are insufficient, citing poor work-life balance and inadequate family policies as key deterrents. It proposed longer maternity and paternity leave, shared paid parental leave, flexible work, and stronger childcare support. The commission stressed that only a long-term, well-resourced plan can address what it described as a demographic crisis with serious implications. (Newsbook)
Malta to host 10th Conference of Council of European Ministers with responsibility for youths: Education and Youths Minister Clifton Grima highlighted the central role of young people in European democracy during his address in Strasbourg. He noted Malta’s pioneering move to grant 16-year-olds the vote, saying confidence in youths makes democracy stronger and more inclusive. Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Grima stressed that youths bring fresh ideas and commitment despite challenges. He underlined Malta’s educational and digital strategies to empower young leaders. Grima also announced Malta will host the 10th Conference of Council of Europe Youth Ministers next week, the first such meeting in 13 years. (TVM)
Malta Faces 10 More Dry Days a Year: Malta is projected to face over 10 additional dry days annually by 2100, according to an OECD report based on mid-range climate change scenarios. Already heavily reliant on rainfall to replenish scarce groundwater, Malta is expected to be the EU’s second most affected country after Portugal. Similar increases in drought risk are forecast for other Mediterranean states. The warning comes after Malta recorded its driest hydrological year on record. Separate studies confirm worsening water stress, declining soil moisture, and rising heat exposure, threatening agriculture unless adaptation measures, such as heat-tolerant crops and improved water management, are adopted. (Maltatoday)
Morning Briefing
Government rejects PN’s environmental proposals
Government MPs have voted down a Nationalist Party proposal to enshrine the right to a clean and healthy environment in Malta’s constitution, arguing that the Opposition’s bill was rushed and risked creating legal uncertainty. Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said the PN’s proposal could open the door to lawsuits against traditional activities such as village feasts, hunting and sports, adding that the government preferred a more cautious approach through a green paper and public consultation. Justice Minister Jonathan Attard described the PN’s initiative as “a mess from beginning to end”, while Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri insisted that concerns raised by associations were genuine and not politically driven. Opposition Leader Alex Borg accused the government of panicking and pressuring groups to oppose the bill. He said the PN had set the national agenda, stressing that the environment is “a right, not a luxury”. PN MPs vowed to reintroduce the measure if elected. (Times of Malta)
Malta pushes for stronger EU action on irregular migration
European leaders have agreed on the need for a holistic approach to irregular migration, as challenges in this area continue to evolve, the Maltese government said in a statement following a meeting in Copenhagen. Prime Minister Robert Abela, who attended the talks, emphasised the importance of not only reducing irregular arrivals but also ensuring the effective return of those who do not qualify for protection. “The message must be clear that in our countries, it should be us who decide who enters, and not the criminal networks within which human smugglers operate,” Abela stressed. He underlined the need for a robust regulatory and operational framework, coupled with strengthened strategic partnerships and global cooperation. The meeting also addressed the broader security situation in Europe, including Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Abela reiterated Malta’s support for Ukraine while stressing the importance of sustaining collective efforts in security and defence. (The Malta Independent)
20% of workforce employed by public sector – NSO
Malta’s public sector employs 20.3% of the national workforce, well above the EU average of around 16%, according to the National Statistics Office. The concentration is even greater in Gozo, where nearly one in three full-time workers are in state employment. Out of 326,678 employed persons nationwide in 2024, around 66,350 work in the public sector. Yet regional disparities are stark: in Gozo and Comino, 28.8% of residents are employed in public administration, defence, education, or health—the largest employment category on the island. By comparison, state jobs account for just 17.9% of employment on Malta’s main island, underscoring Gozo’s heavier reliance on public sector opportunities. (Newsbook)
