Malta exchanges best practices on cohesion and territorial planning with western Med countries

EU funds parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia explained during the meeting of 5+5 Ministers responsible for Cohesion and Territorial Planning how Malta is overcoming its various challenges despite its territorial vulnerabilities

Parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia with the inisters attending the 5 + 5 DIalogue in Montpellier
Parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia with the inisters attending the 5 + 5 DIalogue in Montpellier
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During the First Meeting of 5+5 Ministers responsible for Cohesion and Territorial Planning in Montpellier, EU funds parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia explained how Malta is overcoming its various challenges despite its territorial vulnerabilities, and achieved unprecedented economic success.

“Malta’s economic success in an interdependent world economy is a result of its agile, flexible, and adaptable approach. This is the model which I suggest for my counterparts to achieve economic, social, and territorial cohesion,” he said.

The 5+5 Dialogue is an informal Ministerial meeting bringing together countries from the Mediterranean shores: France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, as well as their North African neighbours Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia.

The objective of the Western Mediterranean Dialogue is to secure closer cooperation between the EU and Maghreb countries, aiming at improving cooperation and integration in the Mediterranean region.

This sub-regional framework is very relevant in the context of security and stability in the Mediterranean, as it further promotes dialogue, confidence building and information exchange in the Western Mediterranean.

The 5+5 is not limited to Foreign Affairs but covers cooperation in a number of areas, including migration, defence, home affairs, tourism, finance, education, energy, culture, and transport.

France hosted the first meeting for Ministers responsible for Territorial Cohesion and Planning within the 5+5 Dialogue in Montpellier last week. This is a new theme for the 5+5 Dialogue and France gave the theme a high priority in the run-up to the upcoming “Sommet des Deux Rives” which will be held in Marseille.

Aaron Farrugi with the inisters attending the 5 + 5 DIalogue in Montpellier and (right) with French minister Jacqueline Gouralt
Aaron Farrugi with the inisters attending the 5 + 5 DIalogue in Montpellier and (right) with French minister Jacqueline Gouralt

French Minister Jacqueline Gouralt, who is responsible for territorial cohesion and relations with Overseas French Territories, will be presiding over the meeting. Back to back with the Ministerial one, a meeting for local authority representatives was also organised.

Farrugia told Ministers that many of the concerns and challenges raised by other countries during this meeting were ones which Malta experienced in the past.

“Although this group is diverse, we have common challenges. It makes sense to tackle them together through effective and convergent responses. A number of challenges which my colleagues mentioned in the previous interventions are ones which Malta faced some years ago, which is why we should work together on the margins of this meeting and the ones which follow it.”

Farrugia explained that Malta’s territorial profile is dictated by its size, demography, its open economy, high population density, and dependance on imports.

“We have no natural resources — that’s why we have even more challenges like our population density which is further accentuated by two important factors, namely an increase in tourism and migration. This puts significant pressure on our environment, infrastructure, and economic set-up,” he said.

“Malta is not just a micro-state; Malta is a micro island state, therefore we have our unique challenges – our challenges as a small country, insularity, and peripherality. Small domestic market, high dependence on imports, land area constraints, high transportation costs. Of course these all have an impact on our socio-economic development.”

Despite this, Malta’s successful economy continues to grow, as its economic strategy takes into consideration all these characteristics and vulnerabilities.

“For a successful implementation of territorial strategies to take place, we believe that key methods must be adapted to the needs of the territory, and should be employed in a holistic manner. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work but tailored solutions are needed in order to ensure that the actual needs on the grounds are being addressed.”

In the case of Gozo, Farrugia said that a horizontal approach is being adopted.

“The role of regional and local councils in Malta is quite different due to our size, economies of scale, and practicalities,” he said.

“For example, our roads, infrastructure, and schools, health services and social security services are all run by government agencies and authoritries and not by local or regional authorities. Nevertheless they have an important role – they are not only being consulted but they are important partners of these agencies.”

While signing a Declaration and Work Programme, by which participating countries agreed to cooperate more closely on a number of thematics relating to cohesion and territorial planning, Farrugia pledged Malta’s support for the Declaration and said it constituted a good framework for future cooperation.

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