About: Malta
Fuel ship sinks off Tunisia, threatening environmental disaster
Tunisian authorities intensified efforts on Saturday (16 April) to avoid an environmental disaster after a merchant fuel ship carrying one thousand tons of fuel sank off the coast of Gabes on Friday, two security sources said.
Former EU Commissioner Dalli charged with bribery in Malta court
Former EU health commissioner John Dalli appeared in a Maltese court Wednesday (9 February) charged with bribery and trading in influence over a tobacco lobbying scandal that caused his resignation a decade ago.
Italy gives safe port to 558 migrants rescued at sea
Italy on Tuesday allowed a charity boat carrying hundreds of migrants rescued at sea to dock in the Sicilian port of Augusta, with another vessel waiting offshore for permission to bring 440 more to land.
Revealed: How Malta lobbied to win EU backing for gas pipeline linked to journalist’s murder
In a rare move, the Maltese government sent letters to Members of the European Parliament one week before a crucial EU negotiation in an attempt to persuade them to support a controversial gas pipeline connecting the Mediterranean island to Italy's gas network.
EU to propose easing medicines flow from Britain to Northern Ireland
The European Commission is due to set out on Friday (17 December) legal changes to ease the transport of medicines from Britain to Northern Ireland, a move that could relieve EU-UK tensions over the British province's future after Brexit.
Pegasus Project wins Daphne Caruana Galizia journalism prize
The European Parliament’s journalism prize, named after assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was awarded on Thursday (14 October) to the Pegasus Project which revealed global surveillance of journalists, politicians, and activists.
Ministers call for OSCE-type conference for the Mediterranean
The 2015-2016 refugee crisis must not repeat itself in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, foreign ministers of Mediterranean countries stressed at Bled Strategic Forum on Thursday (2 September), calling for more cooperation in the region.
Top businessman to face trial for Malta journalist’s murder
One of Malta’s wealthiest businessmen, Yorgen Fenech, has been indicted for the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, prosecutors said in court documents filed on Wednesday (18 August). No date for the trial has yet been set.
Half of Europeans vaccinated as Germany warns on rising virus cases
More than half of all European adults are now fully vaccinated, the EU said on Thursday (22 July), as countries across Europe and Asia battled fresh outbreaks blamed on the fast-spreading Delta variant.
EU Commission ramps up legal action against Cyprus, Malta over ‘golden passports’
The European Commission on Wednesday (9 June) stepped up legal action against Cyprus and Malta over their cash-for-passports schemes in a move that may eventually see the two islands end up in court and face fines.
EU hits 200-million-jab milestone, with Malta first and Bulgaria last
At least 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been given in the European Union as of Tuesday (18 May), according to AFP data tallying up official figures given by member states' health services.
Malta MP tables historic bill to decriminalise abortion
A bill proposing the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta was tabled Wednesday (12 May) in parliament, a first for the Mediterranean nation.
Malta, Hungary top EU vaccinations in terms of population share
Malta and Hungary have fully vaccinated more of their citizens in terms of their population than any other countries in the European Union, with Finland, Bulgaria and Latvia currently lagging behind the rest of the bloc. EURACTIV France reports.
Vaccine doses pass one billion mark globally, but many nations lag behind
The number of Covid-19 jabs administered globally surpassed the one billion mark on Saturday (24 April), offering hope even as the number of virus cases worldwide hit a new daily record mainly due to an explosion of infections in India.
Italy, Greece PMs join influx of visitors to Libya in transition
The prime ministers of Italy and Greece on Tuesday (6 April) joined a growing number of foreign leaders visiting Libya as it seeks to emerge from a decade of post-revolution chaos under a UN-sponsored peace process. Italy’s Mario Draghi, whose...
‘Club Med’ countries show united front on migration
Southern EU countries sometimes called ‘Club Med’ of MED5 on Saturday (20 March) showed a united front at a meeting in Athens, urging solidarity from other EU states in sharing the migration burden.
Suspect in Daphne Caruana’s murder pleads guilty
One of three men accused of the 2017 assassination of Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia pleaded guilty Tuesday (23 February), a major development in a case that has rocked the Mediterranean island nation.
Malta leads EU vaccinations but wary of virus variants
The leading EU country for Covid vaccinations, Malta, on Tuesday (16 February) credited the bloc's joint procurement for its success, but stressed moves need to be made to counter worrying virus variants.
‘Solidarity cannot be voluntary’: Portugal begins talks on EU migration pact
Portugal started a round of talks with ministers from various European Union (EU) nations on the new pact to tackle the bloc's long-standing migration issues, its government said on Tuesday (5 January).
Abortion rights: An open wound in many European countries
Poland already had one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, and is on the verge of tightening it even further. But a closer look at other European countries shows the trend does not go towards liberalisation either, while at EU level, the European Commission is legally unarmed.
EU signs €100m drone contract with Airbus and Israeli arms firms
Airbus and two Israeli arms companies received €100 million to fly unmanned drones over the Mediterranean that will be used to identify boats loaded with migrants trying to reach Europe, according to the Guardian. EURACTIV Italy reports.
EU to launch legal action over Cyprus, Malta ‘golden passports’
The EU said Monday (19 October) it will begin legal action against Cyprus and Malta over their controversial "golden passport" schemes for foreign investors, which critics say have been exploited by criminals.
Cyprus scraps ‘golden passport’ scheme after journalistic investigation
Cyprus said on Tuesday (13 October) it will scrap its controversial "golden passports" scheme for foreign investors next month over alleged abuses uncovered in a television programme.