“Make Your Voice Heard” Deputy Prime Minister Borg Urges University Students

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, urged students at the University of Malta to make their voices heard in shaping the future of their societies. His remarks were delivered during the European Voices: Conversations on Campus event, co-hosted by the University of Malta and the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe, on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, in the Arts Lecture Theatre in Msida. The event also featured addresses by Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos.

“I urge you to make your voice heard in shaping the policies that will define your future because democracy only thrives when young people actively participate in building the societies they want to live in,” Borg told the students.

Speaking on Malta’s Presidency of the Council of Europe, Borg highlighted the importance of youth engagement. He stressed that youth empowerment is not only a priority of Malta’s Council of Europe Presidency but a long-standing national commitment to giving young people a genuine seat at the decision-making table as equal partners in shaping a more democratic future.

“From the youngest head of delegation in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, to the youngest EU Commissioner, and the youngest Ambassador leading the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, Malta continues to show that young people are capable of leading seriously and effectively,” he said.

Borg welcomed ministers responsible for youth from Council of Europe member states, who are in Valletta this week for the Specialised Conference on Youth Participation in Democratic Life, another major event under the Maltese Presidency.

He also spoke about Malta’s role in multilateralism and international cooperation. “Malta has often acted as a bridge between regions, showing that small countries can play a leading role in promoting peace. This is why we led the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe last year, and just last week Malta appointed its first-ever Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to address the protection of children in armed conflict,” he explained.

Throughout its Council of Europe Presidency and beyond, Malta aims to build inclusive societies where every individual feels a true sense of belonging. “We aspire to communities founded on respect for human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law. Only then can our societies truly feel like home for all,” concluded Borg.

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