Malta Calls For EU Climate Rules To Protect Maritime And Aviation Sectors

Malta is among a group of EU Member States calling for changes to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to protect economic competitiveness while meeting climate targets.

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli raised Malta’s concerns during a meeting of the European Union Environment Council, where ministers discussed the proposed revision of the system.

Dalli expressed Malta’s support for an effective European framework to reduce emissions, but stressed that the revised system must be predictable and provide all Member States with a realistic path towards decarbonisation.

She highlighted the importance of maritime transport and aviation to Malta as a small island state, noting that both sectors are essential for connectivity, the supply of goods and the wider economy.

The Minister warned that climate measures should not undermine the competitiveness of countries that depend heavily on these sectors.

“We want the EU ETS to deliver real emissions reductions while giving every Member State the means to contribute, taking into account our different national circumstances,” Dalli said.

Malta is working with like-minded Member States to protect the environmental integrity of the ETS while limiting its potential impact on economic competitiveness.

Its priorities include safeguarding connectivity and security of supply, addressing carbon leakage and ensuring sufficient flexibility and support for a fair and effective transition.

In this context, carbon leakage refers to maritime and aviation traffic being diverted to non-EU countries without delivering corresponding climate benefits.

Dalli stressed that climate action and economic competitiveness must go hand in hand, with European policies taking into account the different circumstances of Member States.

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