EC Report

The facility, supported by €11.4 million from the Cohesion Fund, will focus on collecting and recycling various types of waste, including wood, mattresses, textiles, glass, electronic equipment, and tires. It is expected to recover nearly 20,000 tonnes of waste by 2029.

The Commission emphasizes the importance of reducing reliance on landfills and promoting efficient land use for waste management. Commissioner Elisa Ferreira highlights that the facility will contribute to Malta's efforts to meet national and European waste directives. The inauguration took place during a press conference attended by Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius and other government officials. Commissioner Sinkevičius also visited other environmentally relevant sites during his visit to Malta.

Malta has received over €1 billion in Cohesion Policy funding during the 2014-2020 period, supporting various projects, including those focused on recycling and environmental rehabilitation. A short feature can be found here.

 Since the start of the One-Tablet-per Child project, almost 11 500 tablets have been distributed. In addition, the project has provided training courses for teachers and other educational staff, digital content, virtual reality headsets, exam reader pens, AI tools to assess students as well as info sessions for parents. With an ESF+ budget of €13.5 million during the 2021-2027 funding period, One-Tablet-per Child will focus on secondary schools, aiming to reach over 18 000 students and over 6 000 teachers. 

The European Social Fund’s support has enabled the Richmond Foundation to extend services, ensuring people receive targeted assistance as early as possible. Co-financed courses for early detection of mental health issues among teenagers and young adults increase the chances of persons with mental health issues to successfully integrate into society. The training is accessible to all, educational staff, parents and young people themselves. Nearly 50-75% of mental health issues are generally present between 15-20 years old, and active and early treatment is thus vital to establish the care network those affected need to thrive in their communities.  

Commissioner Schmit also met representatives of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, which implements the ESF co-financed project on Home-Based Therapeutic Services. These services support families and individuals who experience violence, poverty, abuse, physical and mental illness, as well as concerns related to child abuse and neglect. Working to preserve families and households, they offer a shift from a medical focus to a more holistic approach integrating social support, psychotherapy, and parenting skills programmes, thus avoiding situations where children have to be placed in institutions.  

The new ESF+ 2021-2027 in Malta is committed to improving social inclusion and supporting vulnerable groups. The EU will invest €124.4 million in ESF+ funds in Malta to support projects promoting education and training, access to employment and healthcare. Out of this total budget €32.5 million (26.1%) will be dedicated to social inclusion interventions such as the active inclusion of persons with disabilities, measures for disadvantaged children, implementing the EU Child Guarantee, and anti-discrimination measures to facilitate the integration of third-country nationals.  The ESF+ investments will support Malta in achieving its 2030 social targets of raising the employment rate to 84.6%, increasing adult learning participation to 57.6% and reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by 3.3%.

Commissioner Kyriakides also held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Chris Fearne, to discuss the EU's pharmaceutical policy, the new comprehensive approach to mental health and ongoing cooperation on global health initiatives. Together with Deputy Prime Minister Fearne, Commissioner Kyriakides visited the Medichem manufacturing hub in Ħal Far.

Finally, Commissioner Kyriakides delivered a keynote address at the 28th Medicines for Europe Annual Conference.

The legislative proposal on the legal tender of euro cash seeks to safeguard the acceptance and accessibility of cash throughout the euro area, addressing issues that have emerged in some Member States and sectors.

The proposal emphasizes the importance of financial inclusion and ensuring that vulnerable groups, such as older people, have access to cash services. The legislative proposal for a digital euro sets out the legal framework and key features of a digital currency that could complement existing private payment methods. The digital euro would offer consumers an additional European-wide payment solution, providing more choice and enhancing the international role of the euro. It would be available for both online and offline transactions, ensuring data privacy and protection.

Banks and payment service providers would distribute the digital euro, with basic services being free for individuals. Merchants across the euro area would generally be required to accept the digital euro. The European Central Bank would ultimately decide whether and when to issue the digital euro, pending further technical work.

The proposals will undergo scrutiny before formal adoption, followed by a 21-month transition period. These measures align with the Circular Economy Action Plan and contribute to the EU's energy efficiency targets and clean energy transition.

It addresses challenges related to the energy transition, such as skills development, financing, and knowledge gaps. The Commission will coordinate the Partnership's work. Commissioner Virginius Sinkevičius emphasized the need for the sector's active participation and highlighted the benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources. In addition, the Commission has released a digital tool to help fishers assess the impact of fuel costs on their economic performance.

The tool enables users to estimate the effects of different fuel prices on key indicators like profit and value added. To participate or learn more, interested parties can visit the Partnership's website or download the informational leaflet.

Coastal sites generally have better water quality than inland river and lake sites. In 2022, 88.9% of coastal bathing sites and 79.3% of inland sites were classified as excellent. Countries like Cyprus, Austria, Greece, and Croatia had 95% of their bathing waters meeting the excellent standard, while others like Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, and Luxembourg met at least the minimum quality standard. Over the years, the percentage of excellent bathing sites has increased and remained stable, reaching 85.7% in 2022.

Poor water quality sites have reduced to only 1.5% of all bathing waters, indicating a decreasing health risk. Coastal waters generally have better quality due to higher self-purification capacity, while inland waters are more vulnerable to short-term pollution. Over 1,800 bathing waters are located in cities, contributing to the quality of life and ecosystems. The report is based on monitoring over 21,000 bathing sites across Europe.

The Commission is currently evaluating the Bathing Water Directive to assess its effectiveness in protecting public health and improving water quality. The directive is one of several EU laws that safeguard water resources.

The commitment is in line with EU passenger rights regulations, which require airlines to refund tickets within seven days when passengers choose reimbursement. The action aims to create a fair and level playing field within the travel airline industry. The commitment by the online travel agencies complements a previous dialogue with 16 major European airlines, where they committed to respecting the seven-day time limit for reimbursements.

The online travel agencies will provide clearer information about service packages, consumer rights, and the consequences of flight disruptions caused by specific services offered by intermediaries. The changes will be implemented by June 30, 2023. The network of European consumer protection authorities will monitor the correct implementation of these commitments, and compliance by airlines with their commitments from the previous dialogue.

The action was initiated in response to difficulties faced by consumers during the early COVID-19 flight cancellations, and it is part of the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, which coordinates the enforcement of EU consumer protection laws.

During the session, panelists provided an overview of ESG and highlighted its significance in the business world. They covered topics such as climate change, social impact, diversity and inclusion, responsible investing, sustainable practices, and corporate ethics. The panel also discussed the latest trends and emerging best practices in the ESG space, exploring areas like green finance, sustainable supply chains, impact investing, regulatory developments, and the role of technology in advancing ESG initiatives.

The audience had the opportunity to participate by asking questions and sharing their own insights, which enhanced the learning experience and provided additional perspectives on ESG skills. Networking opportunities were also available, allowing attendees to connect with like-minded individuals and professionals in the field of ESG.

Furthermore, the event aimed to involve JCI Malta members actively. Ms. Donnah Calleja served as the moderator for the panel discussion, and Ms. Tamara Fenech participated as a panelist. This occasion also provided an opportunity for new individuals to learn more about JCI and the benefits it offers to its members.

The modifications were made due to supply chain disruptions caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine and a downward revision of Malta's maximum grant allocation. The plan includes a REPowerEU chapter aimed at making Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels, with investments in renewable energy and strengthening the electricity grid. Malta has requested to transfer its share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, amounting to €40 million, to finance the increased ambition of the plan.

The plan also emphasizes digital transition and social resilience, with investments in digitalization and measures to address vulnerabilities in education, employment, social protection, and health. The Council will review the Commission's assessment, and Malta can then request further disbursements based on progress in implementing the plan.