Malta Joins EU Member States In Signing Declaration To strengthen Europe’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, today attended the Competitiveness Council in Brussels, emphasising Malta’s strong commitment to enhancing Europe’s competitiveness, technological leadership, and digital transition.

In the morning session, Minister Schembri joined ministers from the 27 EU Member States at an event formally endorsing the Semicon Declaration, which calls for a revised EU Chips Act to secure Europe’s global position in the semiconductor industry.

He welcomed the declaration, noting that, “Investing in upskilling and reskilling our workforce is essential to keep Europe at the forefront of innovation.”

Minister Schembri also highlighted Malta’s long-term vision through the establishment of the Malta Semiconductor Competence Centre. This initiative represents not only critical infrastructure but also a strategic investment in Malta’s role within the global semiconductor ecosystem, fully aligned with the objectives of Malta Vision 2050.

During discussions at the Council, Minister Schembri expressed Malta’s support for the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), describing it as a crucial step to bridge Europe’s investment gap, as identified in the Draghi and Letta reports. He called on the European Commission and EU ministers to expedite deliberations and procedures to ensure timely action, stressing that bureaucracy must not hinder progress.

He also emphasised the importance of simplification, geographical balance, and robust participation of SMEs. Malta advocates for dedicated funding streams for SMEs and small mid-caps, fast and predictable application processing, and the use of digital tools to accelerate procedures. Minister Schembri underlined that the Fund should support not only conventional investment but also riskier, strategically vital projects, particularly in breakthrough technologies, including prefinancing support.

Regarding the Single Market Strategy, Malta reaffirmed its commitment to advancing digitalisation as a key driver of competitiveness. Referring to the Malta Digitali Strategy 2022–2027, Minister Schembri highlighted the need for interoperable infrastructure, secure digital identities, and harmonised standards to reduce burdens and enable businesses to invest confidently.

Minister Schembri concluded, “Europe’s future prosperity lies in innovation, digitalisation, and inclusivity. Malta is ready to work constructively with all Member States to ensure that Europe leads globally in competitiveness, resilience, and technological progress.”

Earlier this month, Malta launched the Semiconductor Competence Centre, a national initiative uniting academia, research, and industry to foster innovation, develop skills, and create new opportunities for start-ups. This initiative positions Malta as an active contributor to the sector at the European level.

This builds on Malta’s largest foreign direct investment, the STMicroelectronics factory, strengthening the country’s role in the growing European semiconductor sector. Malta is also deepening collaboration with leading research institutes such as IMEC in Belgium, providing Maltese students, researchers, and companies with access to advanced laboratories and high-quality opportunities.

Minister Schembri was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Godwin Mifsud, Deputy Permanent Representative Christopher Farrugia, and Head of Secretariat Roberta Albanese Dalli.

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