Updated 1225
EPPO Probes €253 Million in Suspected EU Fraud Cases in Malta: The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating 17 cases in Malta involving an estimated €253.5 million in damages to EU funds, with three new cases opened last year worth €6.17 million. European prosecutor Yvonne Farrugia said cooperation with Maltese authorities has improved since EPPO’s launch five years ago, but called for dedicated, full-time financial crime investigators to avoid delays. She highlighted EPPO’s success in tackling cross-border fraud networks, including a Chinese customs evasion scheme that shifted to other EU ports after being dismantled in Malta. Farrugia’s six-year term ends this year. (Times of Malta)
EU Says Existing Funds Can Support Abortion Travel, but Malta Unlikely to Apply: The European Commission said member states can use existing programmes, including the €142.7 billion European Social Fund Plus, to support access to safe abortion care, including travel abroad, rejecting calls for a new funding mechanism backed by 1.2 million citizens. As abortion remains illegal in Malta except when a woman’s life is at risk, the government is unlikely to apply. Activists say support may instead depend on other EU countries or NGO-led projects, while anti-abortion groups warn the move stretches the fund’s remit. (Maltatoday)
Government Reopens Finch Trapping Licences Despite EU Court Rulings: The government will reopen applications for new finch trapping licences from March 4 to 18, a move announced on Facebook by minister Clint Camilleri. Applicants must apply at MaltaPost and pay €30 to sit a mandatory exam. BirdLife Malta condemned the decision as a pre-election concession to the hunting lobby and a breach of binding EU law. The European Court of Justice ruled Malta’s finch trapping illegal in 2018 and again in 2024 after it was rebranded as research. NGOs warn enforcement is weak and say issuing new licences reverses commitments made upon EU accession. (Newsbook)
Morning Briefing
Deputy PM condemns strikes on states not involved in conflict
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ian Borg has condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes on states not directly involved in the conflict, urging restraint as tensions across the Gulf intensify. He held separate calls with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to coordinate support for Maltese nationals. The Foreign Ministry is monitoring developments through its embassies and consular services, advising citizens in affected countries to remain indoors and follow local instructions, while travellers are urged to postpone trips. Ahead of an emergency EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, both Gulf leaders appealed to Borg to maintain dialogue with Israel and the United States to facilitate the repatriation of Europeans wishing to leave. Qatar and the UAE have also offered temporary accommodation to stranded travellers. (Maltatoday)
Diplomat Warns Malta Must Prepare for New Security Threats
Senior Maltese diplomat Julian Vassallo has urged authorities to assess Malta’s vulnerabilities as global tensions place strain on the rules-based international order. Speaking in the context of threats by US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, Vassallo said Malta cannot assume that established norms will always hold. Although EU membership provides an added layer of security, he cautioned that the country must prepare for unprecedented scenarios. Referring to recent sabotage of undersea energy and data cables in the Baltic Sea, he questioned Malta’s readiness should similar incidents occur in the Mediterranean. Vassallo, recently assigned to a team responding to developments around Greenland, stressed the need for contingency planning without fuelling alarm. Malta, he said, has long benefited from international law and cooperation, but must now consider how to safeguard critical infrastructure in an increasingly uncertain security environment. (Times of Malta)
Abela and Borg Clash Over Justice Reform and Vision 2050
Sunday political activities saw sharp exchanges between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg on justice reform and the country’s long-term direction. Abela announced that pensioners with additional income from rents, investments or part-time work will no longer pay tax on that income, describing the move as a matter of fairness. He also confirmed plans to table anti-deadlock legislation on the appointment of the Chief Justice, accusing the Opposition of inconsistency. Borg insisted any such mechanism must secure two-thirds parliamentary approval and be discussed beforehand, warning against unilateral action. Both leaders addressed rising Middle East tensions, stressing the need to safeguard Maltese citizens abroad. Abela promoted Vision Malta 2050 as a national contract focused on families, housing and education, while Borg argued that genuine reform requires concrete plans rather than political messaging. (TVM News)
