Month: October 2025

Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela, flimkien mad-Deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u t-Turiżmu Ian Borg, inawgura l-lukanda ġdida VOCO Hotel f’San Ġiljan, investiment ta’ €40 miljun imwettaq mill-Eden Leisure Group, bħala parti mill-InterContinental Hotels Group. Din il-lukanda ta’ ħames stilel, li tinkludi 168 kamra moderna, hija xiehda ta’ kemm is-settur privat għandu fiduċja fl-ekonomija Maltija u jemmnu fil-futur tat-turiżmu f’pajjiżna.

Malta qed tkompli tikkonsolida l-pożizzjoni tagħha bħala waħda mill-aktar destinazzjonijiet importanti internazzjonalment fid-dinja tat-turizmu. Fl-ewwel tmien xhur tal-2025, in-nefqa tat-turisti f’pajjiżna żdiedet bi 18.2% meta mqabbla mal-istess perjodu tas-sena ta’ qabel, riżultat li juri t-tkabbir b’saħħtu u sostenibbli li qed jesperjenza s-settur turistiku Malti.

Barra minn hekk, skont ċifri ppubblikati minn Eurostat, Malta kklassifikat l-ewwel fost il-pajjiżi Ewropej għan-numru ta’ ljieli ta’ akkomodazzjoni, li żdiedu bi kważi 13% fl-ewwel nofs tas-sena.  Is-settur turistiku Malti qed ikompli jikber b’rata li mhux biss taqbeż il-medja Ewropea, iżda anke dik ta’ ħafna pajjiżi oħra fil-Mediterran.

Dr Abela enfasizza li dan it-tkabbir huwa frott ta’ għażliet strateġiċi u t-twettieq ta’ inizjattivi b’saħħithom, bl-għan li pajjiżna jkollu tkabbir ekonomiku sostenibbli. Huwa tenna li permezz tal-Malta Vison 2050 pajjiżna qed iħares lejn futur fejn it-turiżmu jibqa’ jiffoka fuq il-kwalità, aktar milli fuq il-kwantità.

Il-Prim Ministru tenna kif il-Gvern se jkompli isostni l-bażi għal turiżmu sostenibbli permezz ta’ infrastruttura aħjar u kollaborazzjoni b’saħħita bejn is-settur pubbliku u dak privat.

Bil-bini tal-lukanda VOCO, Eden Leisure Group qed ikomplu jsaħħu r-relazzjoni mal-kumpanija IHG Hotels Group, hekk kif din hija t-tielet lukanda li qed titmexxa minn din il-kumpanija internazzjonali f’pajjiżna. Dan l-investiment jibqa jpoġġi lil Malta fuq il-mappa bħala destinazzjoni ta’ turiżmu ta’ kwalità li tgħaqqad l-ospitalità mal-innovazzjoni.

In Malta we will have a middle class which will not pay a cent in tax

During a press conference at Auberge de Castille following the presentation of the Budget 2026, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that the Government will continue to invest in families with an unprecedented measure in a generation, that of a larger tax cut for working parents. In Malta, we will have a middle class of parents with two or more children earning up to €30,000 each who, within three years, will no longer pay any tax. This means that these parents will effectively be tax-free for almost a quarter of a century. Working parents with one child will also benefit from a significant tax reduction.

Dr Abela noted that while economies across Europe are stagnating and other Governments are resorting to austerity, the Maltese and Gozitan people are benefiting from the best budget in history. “A budget that gives peace of mind that Government is there for you. We are there when you start a family, when you raise children, and when you grow older. Because with strong families, we have a strong economy,” emphasised the Prime Minister. 

He added that those most in need will benefit from a €120 million social package. A single parent with two children on the minimum wage will see her income increase by €650 through the In-Work Benefit and higher Children’s Allowance.

Maltese and Gozitan pensioners will enjoy the eleventh consecutive pension increase through an adjustment that is double the cost of living. Additional increases are being granted to widows and to those born before 1962, as the Government continues to correct an injustice created in 2006. The Prime Minister also referred to the 15% increase in stipends for all students and the higher grant for Gozitan students studying in Malta.

Prime Minister Abela stated that the Budget continues to support businesses through generous yet targeted incentives. He added that Malta stands on the threshold of a total transformation. The Malta Vision 2050, that will be launched early next year, will set ambitious goals, including positioning Malta among the world’s best in human development, and ensuring that life satisfaction and family income levels rank among the top in Europe. To achieve this, he said, major investments are needed, with changes in business operations, technology, and workforce skills. For this reason, the Government is allocating a €100 million fund for the digital switchover and the adoption of AI across society.

From his end, the Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg remarked that Budget 2026 builds on the achievements of the Maltese and Gozitan people in recent years, ensuring that economic stability truly translates into a better quality of life while steering the country towards greater resilience and sustainability. “Our people have always managed to rise above challenges and reach their goals. The economic success of recent years is unprecedented, a success achieved because we worked together as a nation. Yet the challenges it brings to various communities, along with global pressures, demand a strong collective commitment. Through this budget, the Government is providing the tools to keep pulling in the same direction, to continue working together for a better future for families and communities in our country,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Minister for Finance Clyde Caruana said that this Budget once again demonstrates that the Government remains a guarantee for the people. “Just as we did not hesitate to take the necessary decisions in the face of major challenges in recent years, today we continue to make bold, forward-looking choices. This is a budget built on well-studied, responsible measures, one that will positively shape the future of Maltese and Gozitan society,” stressed Minister Caruana.

It-tibdil fil-klima u l-appoġġ lill-Ukrajna jiddominaw l-aġenda tad-diskussjonijiet

“Filwaqt li nżommu l-livell għoli ta’ ambizzjoni li għandna, irridu naraw li nilħqu l-miri tagħna mingħajr ma nitfgħu piżijiet sproporzjonati fuq il-familji u n-negozji tagħna.” Dan kien il-messaġġ ewlieni tal-Prim Ministru Robert Abela f’waħda mid-diskussjonijiet ewlenin ta’ dan is-Summit.

Fil-kuntest tal-isforzi li l-Unjoni Ewropea qed tagħmel biex issaħħaħ il-kompetittività globali, il-Prim Ministru tkellem dwar l-importanza li jittieħdu deċiżjonijiet ekwi u li jieħdu kont tar-realtajiet speċifiċi ta’ kull Stat Membru, inkluż b’mod partikolari dawk tal-Istati Membri gżejjer bħalma huwa pajjiżna. Fl-interventi tiegħu, il-Prim Ministru insista li dawn ir-realtajiet iridu jkunu riflessi fil-leġiżlazzjoni li ser twassal lill-Unjoni Ewropea biex tilħaq il-miri klimatiċi li għandha għall-2040 u l-2050, u tenna li jridu jiġu evitati żbalji tal-passat billi l-impatt ta’ kull pass ikun studjat fid-dettall mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Dan ġie rifless ukoll f’dikjarazzjoni li għamel pajjiżna u li ġiet annessa mal-konklużjonijiet formali tal-Kunsill Ewropew, fejn ġew deskritti r-realtajiet u l-bżonnijiet speċifiċi ta’ Stati Membri gżejjer bħal Malta.

Tema oħra ewlenija fuq l-aġenda tal-mexxejja kienet dik dwar l-appoġġ tal-Unjoni Ewropea lill-Ukrajna, fejn il-Prim Ministru saħaq fuq is-solidarjetà kontinwa mal-poplu Ukren, filwaqt li mill-ġdid tenna li kull sforz lejn trattat tal-paċi, ġej minn fejn ġej, irid ikun sostnut. F’dan ir-rigward, il-mexxejja komplew jiddiskutu l-kunċett ta’ Reparations Loan imressaq mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea, fejn għal darb’oħra l-Prim Ministru Robert Abela kien parteċipi b’mod attiv u saħaq fuq il-bżonn li jkun studjat aktar l-impatt fuq kull Stat Membru u fuq l-Unjoni Ewropea. Huwa tenna wkoll li l-eventwali proposta għandha tkun konformi mal-liġi internazzjonali u tal-Unjoni Ewropea, u li trid tkun rispettata n-newtralità Kostituzzjonali ta’ pajjiżna.

F’taħdidiet dwar id-difiża u s-sigurtà fl-Ewropa, il-Prim Ministru tkellem dwar l-importanza li Malta tingħata l-libertà meħtieġa li biha titħalla topera u tikkontribwixxi fil-limiti tal-Kostituzzjoni. Huwa enfasizza li s-sigurtà tmur lil hinn mill-elementi tradizzjonali tad-difiża u qal li oqsma bħal dawk tas-sigurtà marittima, l-istat ta’ tħejjija għal kriżijiet, u l-protezzjoni tal-infrastruttura kritika madwar il-Mediterran u l-viċinat tan-Nofsinhar tal-Ewropa, jibqgħu ta’ prijorità għal pajjiżna.           

Il-Mexxejja ddiskutew ukoll temi oħra, fosthom l-akkomodazzjoni affordabbli kif ukoll is-sitwazzjoni fil-Lvant Nofsani, fejn il-Prim Ministru kompla jenfasizza l-importanza tal-immobilizzar ta’ riżorsi u għajnuna umanitarja, partikolarment f’Gaża. Huwa semma kif bħalma pajjiżna ta sehmu fl-evakwazzjoni u fit-trattament ta’ pazjenti tfal minn Gaża, hemm bżonn sforz b’saħħtu kollettiv xprunat mill-empatija u gwidat minn prinċipju waħdieni, dak tas-soluzzjoni ta’ żewġ stati. B’hekk biss dan ir-reġjun ser jkun jista’ jiżgura d-dinjità fil-Palestina kif ukoll is-sigurtà fl-Iżrael.

Il-Prim Ministru pparteċipa wkoll fis-Summit tal-Euro fejn tkellem dwar il-ħtieġa li nkomplu nsaħħu s-sostenibbiltà fiskali fit-tfassil tal-politika ekonomika għall-futur. Huwa qal li l-politika tal-Unjoni Ewropea trid tkun waħda ta’ flessibbiltà u r-rispett lejn il-kompetenzi nazzjonali, filwaqt li tibqa’ tassigura l-istabbiltà finanzjarja tal-Unjoni Ewropea u l-Istati Membri.

Qabel il-laqgħa tal-Kunsill Ewropew, il-Prim Ministru pparteċipa wkoll f’laqgħa ta’ koordinament dwar l-immigrazzjoni flimkien ma’ tnax-il pajjiż ieħor u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela tenna l-appoġġ kontinwu ta’ pajjiżna favur sforz kollettiv u strateġiku quddiem l-isfida tal-immigrazzjoni, b’enfasi fuq solidarjetà, responsabbiltà u kooperazzjoni ma’ pajjiżi terzi, inkluż dawk tal-oriġini u tat-tranżitu. Il-Prim Ministru qal li l-proċess tal-adozzjoni tal-liġijiet, partikolarment dwar ir-ritorn ta’ dawk li ma jistħoqqilhomx l-ażil, għandu jkun aktar spedit, filwaqt li tenna l-bżonn li tissaħħaħ il-kooperazzjoni ma’ pajjiżi u istituzzjonijiet oħra Ewropej, inkluż mal-Kunsill tal-Ewropa sabiex din l-isfida tiġi indirizzata b’mod ħolistiku.

A Strong Economy – A Future for our Children is the theme for Budget 2026, which the Government, led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, will be presenting next Monday in Parliament.

The Budget, which will be delivered by the Minister for Finance Clyde Caruana, will continue to invest in families, workers, youth and pensioners because the country has a strong economy, an economy that offers a future for our children.

Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that when the economy is strong, Maltese and Gozitan families benefit. “What we have achieved together will be the foundation for future progress”, said the Prime Minister as he announced the theme of the Budget, which will continue paving the way for a bright future for the children of our country.

Prime Minister Robert Abela addresses EY conference which reflects strong trust in Malta

At the opening of the “Malta Future Realised 2025” conference organised by EY, Prime Minister Robert Abela remarked that now that our country has established a strong economy, the Government has set three important targets to further foster success, in line with the Malta Vision 2050.

During the conference, it was noted that Malta’s attractiveness to investors has risen to 79%, the highest rate in almost a decade. The Prime Minister said that we want our country to be among the top ten in the world in terms of human development, that household income exceeds the European average by 15%, and that life satisfaction in Malta ranks among the highest in Europe. These are the same objectives outlined in the Malta Vision 2050.

In his address, Dr Abela highlighted that while many of the world’s largest economies, often regarded as global giants have experienced a downturn, Malta’s economic story has been markedly different and far more positive. “Rating agencies, one after the other, have reaffirmed their confidence in Malta, maintaining positive ratings for our country,” said the Prime Minister. He added that the EY Attractiveness Survey for Malta confirms this confidence, showing that our country continues to be an attractive destination for investment.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that almost two thirds of those who participated in the survey said they plan to remain in Malta over the next ten years, while nine out of ten companies intend to either expand or maintain their investment locally. Dr Abela affirmed that Malta’s economy is now one-third larger than it was before the pandemic, while the number of jobseekers has fallen by a third. 

“By adopting progressive economic policies, today we are in a much stronger position than countries that opted for short-term austerity,” said the Prime Minister. He stressed that the Government’s continued support for families and businesses has safeguarded the country’s productive capacity.

Dr Abela concluded by expressing satisfaction that with the upcoming launch of the Malta Vision 2050 early next year, the country will have a comprehensive, long-term strategy built by the people and for the people, a vision that rises above political partisanship and sets out a clear plan for the lasting prosperity of Malta and Gozo.