Malta joined the European Union 1st May 2004 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Malta is a single-chamber parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the president - whose role is largely ceremonial. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each has its own regional committee, which serves as the intermediary between local and national government.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Malta.

EU - Malta

&nbsp;Follow the Money won the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism for exposing the hidden financial networks enabling Russia’s sanction-evading oil trade. The&nbsp;<a data-analytics-event-attached="true" href="https://www.ftm.eu/articles/who-is-behind-the-russian-shadow-fleet?share=wge64Sf2j4nGxIjYIzKSgLJ/fUMpaOz82IYM45YI3McuEe5azfrap36CM9vWEYo%3D" rel="noopener" target="_blank">investigation</a>, coordinated by the platform for investigative journalism “Follow the Money” in collaboration with media from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, revealed how Western shipowners earned over 6 billion dollars selling 230 aging tankers to Russia's shadow fleet.

&nbsp;The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.&nbsp;

The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated. The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrate the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press.

Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism. Parliament has repeatedly&nbsp;denounced attempts to limit media freedom, and especially attacks against journalists, in any form and wherever they may come from. MEPs were instrumental in the effort that culminated in March 2024 in the&nbsp;European Media Freedom Act, which protects media freedom and journalists' safety and independence. They also pushed for years for rules to tackle malicious litigation, aiming to protect journalists and civil society from strategic lawsuits seeking to silence critical voices, and the EU’s&nbsp;anti-SLAPP directive&nbsp;was finally approved in February 2024.&nbsp;

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

On the 16th October 2017, the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb explosion. Ms Caruana Galizia gave to the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) evidence about her work on the Panama Papers at a meeting in February 2017 in Malta.

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed. Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in Malta

Press freedom in Malta (2019-2020)

EP President Roberta Metsola visits Malta, where she meets students from the Mediterranean College of Sport and St Albert the Great College and takes part in a discussion organised by the Malta Business Network.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, official visit to Malta

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta

President meets students at St Joseph School and pays tributeon Paulina Dembska's murder site in Sliema.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta

President's visit to Seifert Systems in Birżebbugia. The company received EU funding recently.

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta - Visit of a cultural and artistic exposition

Keynote speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at EU/UK annual forum 2026

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, to Gozo (Malta) - Meeting with the Victoria 2031 Foundation, Samuel Azzopardi (President of the Region of Gozo), and Brian Azzopardi (Mayor of Victoria)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Participation in an event organised on the occasion of International Women’s Day

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Meeting with students at Stella Maris College

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Visit to Hospice Malta, a voluntary organization for palliative care

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Visit to Tastees Manufacturing Limited

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Meets students at St Aloysius College

This news item shows extracts from the meeting between Victoria 2031 Foundation, Samuel AZZOPARDI, President of the Region of Gozo, Brian AZZOPARDI the Mayor of Victoria and Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, on the occasion of her visit to Victoria, in Malta.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Victoria (Malta): extracts from the meeting with Victoria 2031 Foundation, Samuel AZZOPARDI, President of the Region of Gozo and Brian AZZOPARDI the Mayor of Victoria (Malta)

This video presents extracts from EP President Roberta METSOLA's participatation to an event organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Malta.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: participation to an event organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day

This video shows extracts from EP President Roberta METSOLA' visit to Stella Maris College during her visit to Malta.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: extracts from the meeting with students at Stella Maris College

During her visit to Malta, Roberta METSOLA, EP President visits Hospice Malta, a voluntary organization for palliative care.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: visit to Hospice Malta, a voluntary organization for palliative care

During her visit to Malta, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, visits a food factory.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: visit to a food factory

This News item presents extracts from the meeting between EP President Roberta METSOLA and students at St. Aloysius College, in Malta.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: extracts from the meeting with students at St. Aloysius College

Closing statements of the debate by Closing statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, on the need to strengthen EU readiness, preparedness, and solidarity mechanisms following recent extreme weather events in southern Europe. MEPs question Commission representatives on EU action to prevent and prepare for natural disasters, following the launch of the 2025 EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy, and to support EU countries affected by enhancing civil protection and related funding. In early 2026, Portugal, southern Italy and Malta experienced severe weather, including cyclone Harry and storm Kristin, which caused casualties and significant damage to coastal areas. The storms brought floods, landslides, and the highest ever recorded waves in the Mediterranean.

Extreme weather events in particular in Portugal, southern Italy, Malta and Greece - European response in strengthening readiness, preparedness and solidarity mechanisms: closing statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality

MEPs debate debate the need to strengthen EU readiness, preparedness, and solidarity mechanisms following recent extreme weather events in southern Europe. MEPs question Commission representatives on EU action to prevent and prepare for natural disasters, following the launch of the 2025 EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy, and to support EU countries affected by enhancing civil protection and related funding. In early 2026, Portugal, southern Italy and Malta experienced severe weather, including cyclone Harry and storm Kristin, which caused casualties and significant damage to coastal areas. The storms brought floods, landslides, and the highest ever recorded waves in the Mediterranean.

Extreme weather events in particular in Portugal, southern Italy, Malta and Greece - European response in strengthening readiness, preparedness and solidarity mechanisms: MEPs debate

EU - Malta (T)

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