Updated 1300
Malta’s 2025 Council of Europe presidency to cost €8 million: Malta will assume the presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in mid-May 2025, following Luxembourg. With an €8 million budget, Malta will host a range of meetings and conferences over the six-month term, including the IIDAHOT+ Forum on LGBTI rights and the European Youth Work Convention. This will be Malta’s fourth presidency since joining the council nearly 60 years ago. Malta’s key priorities include youth empowerment, child protection, combating violence and discrimination, and upholding the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council of Europe, distinct from the EU’s European Council, focuses on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, with Ukraine’s defense as a current top priority. (Times of Malta)
Concerns mount for Gozo’s declining terraced houses: The Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) proposes protecting Gozo’s terraced houses, built between the 1970s and 1990s, as their decline threatens the island’s architectural charm. These houses made up 38.1% of Gozo’s housing in 2021, but rising apartment permits—from 26% in 2013 to 59% in 2023—pose risks to Gozo’s traditional landscape. The GRDA seeks to designate these areas within the Gozo and Comino Local Plan as distinct zones, similar to Urban Conservation Areas, to preserve their limestone facades and harmonious design. A 2022 court ruling supports this initiative. (Maltatoday)
Government considers ‘bailout’ on Marsa shipbuilding land: The government, through industrial parks regulator INDIS Malta, is negotiating to reclaim a 65-year land concession at Marsa from MMH Holdings, granted in 2016. MMH, which uses the area for oil and gas support, faced financial difficulties and attempted to sell a majority share to new investors, but regulatory approval was denied, and the concession’s terms restricted activities to oil and gas services only. With mounting financial pressures and changing industry conditions, MMH has sought to broaden permitted services. Talks aim to reach a fair agreement, though not all government members support assisting MMH’s exit.
Morning Briefing
PM says economic development will take precedence on growth
Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday that discussions about Malta’s economy should shift from simply focusing on economic growth to emphasising economic development. According to Abela, economic development is about ensuring that growth translates into a better quality of life for citizens. He pointed to sectors driven by quality, specifically mentioning the maritime industry, where he stressed the need for Malta to establish a proper maritime hub. He stated that a Cabinet discussion on the promised labour migration policy is on government’s agenda next week. Abela said the policy is set to strike a balance between economic growth and a reasonable number of foreign workers. (Maltatoday)
Not all politicians are the same – Grech
Outlining his vision for the country Bernard Grech encouraged people to reject the notion that all politicians and governments are the same. He emphasised that a PN-led government would prioritise not only immediate concerns but also the long-term sustainability of Malta. The PN leader, who was closing the party’s general council, stressed the urgent need for genuine change, calling for a government that listens to its citizens and proactively plans for the future. “We need tangible actions to tackle the real challenges facing our nation. It’s time to reassess the realities we are dealing with today,” he said. He also criticised the PM’s “business as usual” response to a patronage scandal involving ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri. (Times of Malta)
Malta commemorates Remembrance Day
Remembrance Sunday was observed on Sunday with a mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial in Floriana attended by the President of Malta, the Prime Minister, and other dignitaries. This day is dedicated to honouring those who lost their lives in World War I and World War II. The Archdiocese of Malta customarily celebrates a pontifical mass on the occasion at the St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, led by the archbishop. However, Archbishop Charles Scicluna was advised by his doctors to withdraw from his commitments on Sunday after suffering a minor head injury in a freak accident the previous night. (Newsbook)
