MCESD discusses European priorities and recommendations for Malta

The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) convened its social partners to discuss key developments at European Union level and their relevance to Malta, focusing on the 2026 State of the Union Address and the European Semester 2026.

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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