Gozo Minister Calls For Fair & Inclusive EU Solidarity For Small Islands

Gozo and Planning Minister Clint Camilleri delivered an address during a Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, calling on the European Union to modernise the European Solidarity Fund so that it better reflects the realities and vulnerabilities of small island Member States such as Malta.

Addressing the CPMR Political Bureau, Minister Camilleri referred to the damage caused by Storm Harry, which affected several European countries including Malta and Gozo, as well as Portugal, southern Italy and Greece.

He stressed that in island regions such as Gozo, the consequences of extreme weather are felt more acutely, with risks to connectivity, supply chains and access to essential services.

The Minister stated that Malta is not seeking special treatment but fair treatment.

He argued that severe weather and climate change do not distinguish between large and small countries, and therefore European solidarity should not depend on size but on justice.

He explained that under current criteria Malta must suffer damage exceeding 0.6 per cent of its Gross National Income to qualify for assistance, amounting to more than €121.5 million in 2026.

He described this threshold as disproportionate for small islands. Larger countries, he noted, may benefit from alternative regional criteria that do not apply to Malta due to its classification as a single NUTS 2 region.

Minister Camilleri urged the EU to introduce fairer thresholds and specific provisions for islands and isolated regions, ensuring solidarity is delivered in practice as well as principle.

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