Updated 1200
Fiscal Council Warns Malta’s Deficit Could Exceed Government Forecast: The Malta Fiscal Advisory Council has warned that Malta’s public finances face a heightened risk of a larger-than-projected deficit this year, as government spending surged nearly 18% in the first half. The €428 million deficit target will require tighter spending controls or stronger-than-expected revenue. While economic growth remains resilient and the Government’s 3.7% forecast is considered plausible, the Council urged restraint, particularly on unproductive expenditure. It also stressed the need to keep spending growth within the agreed 5.8% limit, despite Malta’s public debt remaining comfortably below the EU’s 60% threshold. (TVM News)
Malta Calls for EU Mediterranean Mechanism to Protect Undersea Infrastructure: Malta has urged the EU to establish a permanent mechanism to protect critical underwater infrastructure, including telecommunications cables, electricity interconnectors and pipelines across the Mediterranean. Speaking at an EU defence ministers’ meeting in Dublin, Home Affairs Minister Genn Bedingfield said monitoring and protection remain fragmented and called for stronger European coordination and rapid-response capabilities. As a first step, Malta proposed a dedicated expert working group to develop the operational, legal, technical and financial framework for such a system. The mechanism would provide shared situational awareness, coordinate national and EU assets, and enable swift responses to threats or incidents. Bedingfield also cited a recent incident involving an allegedly attacked Russian gas tanker, arguing that Europe needs clearer procedures for complex maritime incidents, particularly those involving sanctioned vessels, suspected hostile activity or environmental risks. (The Times of Malta)
PN Calls for Better Cooling during MATSEC Resits: The Nationalist Party has called for urgent measures to improve cooling and ventilation in schools after students and examination invigilators reportedly faced excessive heat while sitting MATSEC resit examinations. The PN said it had received complaints from students and parents about conditions during the examinations, describing the heat as “unbearable” and warning that students should be able to sit exams in a safe and suitable environment. Concerns over high temperatures in schools have been raised previously. Parents complained about sweltering conditions during summer school earlier this year, while the Malta Union of Teachers said there was no comprehensive plan for air conditioning across schools. The Education Ministry has said improving teaching and working conditions remains a priority. It has outlined a phased programme to install air conditioning in schools where it is still lacking, alongside improvements to ventilation and other infrastructure. (The Malta Independent)
Morning Briefing
MUT demands research before vocational schools return
The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has said it will not support plans for a new vocational secondary school unless the Education Ministry provides research demonstrating the need for it. The union said vocational subjects have been offered in secondary schools for the past decade, but the overall system has never been properly evaluated. The MUT is calling for an assessment of the effectiveness of existing vocational education, followed by consultation with key stakeholders including MCAST, ITS, MATSEC, the Faculty of Education and schools. It also warned that a vocational route could risk segregating students and limiting their opportunities for a broader education, echoing concerns that contributed to the closure of traditional trade schools. The Education Ministry said no policy has been finalised and that consultation with educators, families and students will precede any decision. Meanwhile, the UPE welcomed the proposal, calling for modern trade schools focused on areas such as engineering, IT, artificial intelligence and design. (Maltatoday)
Malta’s seawater records hottest August on record
Temperatures around Malta reached record levels in August, with the monthly sea water average rising to 29.5°C, according to figures from MCAST’s STREAM marine monitoring service. The average surpassed the previous August record of 28.7°C, recorded in 2024, and was almost 3°C above the long term average. Oceanographer Aldo Drago said August also marked the first time in STREAM’s records that average sea surface temperatures around the Maltese islands exceeded 30°C. The threshold was breached on eight days during the month. Marine heatwave conditions persisted throughout August, reaching severe intensity on eight days. Towards the end of the month, waters south of Malta entered the extreme category, the highest level on the four tier scale. The highest daily average was 30.3°C on 27 August, when an individual peak temperature of 30.8°C was recorded south of Gozo. The figures are based on satellite observations taken at night. (Times of Malta)
PN calls for better cooling during MATSEC resits
The Nationalist Party has called for urgent measures to improve cooling and ventilation in schools after students and examination invigilators reportedly faced excessive heat while sitting MATSEC resit examinations. The PN said it had received complaints from students and parents about conditions during the examinations, describing the heat as “unbearable” and warning that students should be able to sit exams in a safe and suitable environment. Concerns over high temperatures in schools have been raised previously. Parents complained about sweltering conditions during summer school earlier this year, while the Malta Union of Teachers said there was no comprehensive plan for air conditioning across schools. The Education Ministry has said improving teaching and working conditions remains a priority. It has outlined a phased programme to install air conditioning in schools where it is still lacking, alongside improvements to ventilation and other infrastructure. (The Malta Independent)
