The proposals discussed included measures to reduce energy consumption, shaded public spaces and community cooling centres, awareness campaigns, and increased greenery and measures to reduce heat in urban areas. These were followed by proposals to strengthen energy and water infrastructure, manage electricity demand more flexibly, and enhance climate resilience through urban planning. Measures were also presented to prepare health services for heatwaves and extreme weather events, strengthen road and transport infrastructure, ensure continuity of food supplies and food safety, and provide targeted support for elderly people living alone.

MCESD Chairperson Maria Micallef highlighted three key priorities: effective planning and advance preparation, education tailored to different age groups across society, and the protection of workers and society as a whole. She stressed that these are essential to ensuring the country is better prepared and more resilient in the face of climate challenges.

Climate Action Authority Chief Executive Officer Abigail Cutajar explained that the meeting with social partners aimed to consolidate a set of proposals for submission to the Government, with a view to strengthening national resilience and improving preparedness across various sectors.

The contributions will be considered in the development of the National Climate Resilience Plan, while the Authority will present a Green Paper following the consolidation of proposals by MCESD.

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The collaboration creates opportunities for studies and analysis on the labour market, productivity, social policy, sustainability, demographics and regional development, including Gozo. The agreement also provides for University representatives to contribute to relevant Council discussions and for an annual strategic dialogue on research, skills, innovation and emerging economic and social trends.

Through this partnership, the two institutions will explore opportunities for training, seminars, workshops and student involvement in research projects related to social dialogue. The agreement also provides for the use of the University’s Valletta Campus for MCESD activities, subject to availability and agreed arrangements.

The agreement was signed on behalf of MCESD by Chairperson Ms Maria Micallef and Chief Executive Officer Dr Brendan Zerafa, and on behalf of the University of Malta by Rector Professor Frank Bezzina. The Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection Keith Azzopardi Tanti, and the Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri, presided over the signing.

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The Chief Executive Officer of Identità, Colonel Edric Zahra, and Graziella Cauchi from Jobsplus reviewed the first year of implementation and explained the impact of the measures introduced. They outlined progress in strengthening employment stability and compliance in the labour market, as well as efforts to better align workers’ skills with labour market needs while supporting their integration and protection.

Minister Jonathan Attard said the first year of implementation had been positive. “Labour migration cannot simply be a question of how many workers we need, but which workers and which skills the country truly needs,” he said.

Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti welcomed the social partners’ response to the progress made and emphasised the importance of continued dialogue to ensure the policy evolves in line with current and future needs.

MCESD Chairperson Maria Micallef said that “there was unanimous agreement that this policy has been implemented well and is already delivering benefits, while recognising that there is still room for improvement.”

The social partners also discussed the evaluation of existing measures and the next steps in developing the policy. The MCESD will continue to provide a forum for dialogue between the Government and social partners so that the policy remains responsive to the needs of the labour market.

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The meeting, held on 18 September 2026 at the University of Malta Valletta Campus, included introductory remarks by MCESD Chairperson Maria Micallef and the Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection, Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti. A presentation was delivered by Ms Maria Elena Despott, Head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, followed by feedback from social partners.

The presentation provided an overview of Malta’s economic performance, highlighting GDP growth of 4.0% in 2025, with growth forecast at 3.7% in 2026. It also noted continued employment growth, alongside challenges related to labour and skills shortages.

Ms Maria Elena Despott, Head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, said “President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union Address set out the vision and concrete actions for the year ahead to address the needs of European citizens and businesses. The priorities outlined are particularly relevant to Malta, including competitiveness, completing the Single Market, simplifying rules, improving access to capital and creating higher-quality jobs.”

She added that challenges ranging from artificial intelligence to climate change also present opportunities for citizens and businesses, while highlighting the importance of the European Semester recommendations in strengthening Malta’s competitiveness.

Discussing what was addressed during the meeting, MCESD Chairperson Maria Micallef said that “we focused on two important areas: President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union Address, which outlined the EU’s priorities for the year ahead, and the European Semester Country Report for Malta. While the economic figures show that Malta continues to move in a positive direction, we also discussed the six areas identified through the EU recommendations where Malta needs to maintain its focus.”

The meeting examined the six areas covered by the Country Specific Recommendations for Malta for 2026 and 2027: Fiscal, Tax and Pensions; EU funding; Research & Innovation, and Justice System; Energy and Transport, Waste and Water management; Education, Skills and Job-quality concerns.

The discussion provided social partners with an opportunity to exchange views on the recommendations and their implications for Malta’s economic and social development.

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