€6 Million To Fund Electric Vehicles And Charging Infrastructure For Local Councils

Jun 20 2025

Ministry for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme has announced a €6 million investment in sustainable transport for local councils, as part of Malta’s Climate Social Fund (CSF) strategy.

Speaking at a public consultation session with local councils, Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi highlighted the vital role of local councils in ensuring that investments reach communities in need and provide meaningful social support.

“Local councils play a crucial role in ensuring targeted investment reaches where it’s most needed and offers social benefits to many.” said Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi during the event.

The session formed part of the EU-wide consultation process linked to the Climate Social Fund. Present at the meeting were representatives from both local and regional councils, along with Jonathan Vassallo, Permanent Secretary for European Funds.

The Minister stressed the importance of such sessions to raise awareness of EU funding programmes and to give local councils the opportunity to contribute ideas and suggestions. He also commended all participants for their commitment to shaping a realistic and sustainable national plan.

Debbie Cachia, Chief Officer for Strategic Coordination and Planning for European Funds, presented key elements of the plan, with a particular focus on the transport sector. She introduced an initiative that will support the provision of local community transport services for vulnerable groups.

The initiative includes the deployment of electric vehicles and the necessary charging infrastructure, funded through an investment of approximately €6 million. In addition, an awareness campaign will be launched to promote the service within localities.

This initiative forms part of Malta’s broader commitment to a just green transition and comes under a total CSF allocation of €60.5 million for Malta for the period 2026–2032.

The public consultation remains open until 25 June 2025 at noon, and the public is invited to submit comments through publicconsultation.gov.mt or fondi.eu.

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Electric Bike Catches Fire In Sliema

Jun 20 2025

Yesterday at around 4:30 pm, an electric bike was engulfed in flames in Sliema.

Footage by nearby residents shows the vehicle covered in smoke and flames.

The Civil Protection Department responded promptly and extinguished the blaze.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

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Agreement Reached To Conduct Road Beautification And Landscaping Works During Off-Peak Hours

Jun 20 2025

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Chris Bonett, has overseen the signing of an agreement between Transport Malta and Environment Malta aimed at ensuring that landscaping and beautification works around road infrastructure take place during off-peak hours.

This agreement forms part of a series of measures over an 18-month period designed to mitigate traffic challenges, reduce congestion, and increase efficiency. “This agreement is another step in our plan to make better use of existing roads and infrastructure. It clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment to implementing practical solutions that improve mobility and quality of life. It allows Environment Malta to carry out vital works without causing unnecessary congestion.” Minister Bonett said.

According to the agreement, beautification and landscaping works should be conducted outside of peak hours, defined as between 6:00 am and 9:00 am and between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on weekdays, and between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays.

This does not apply where works do not affect traffic flow.

The agreement also includes the creation of a coordination structure between the two entities, with designated officials responsible for planning and monitoring activities. Environment Malta will also be responsible for ensuring all work complies with health and safety regulations, including the use of signage and traffic management measures when necessary.

The agreement was signed by Kurt Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta, and Herman Galea, Director General of Environment Malta.

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BCA & Kamra tal-Periti Renew Commitment To Public Safety Following St Julian’s Incident

Jun 20 2025

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Kamra tal-Periti (KTP) have reinforced their commitment to public safety following the recent incident in St Julian’s.

Perit Roderick Bonnici, CEO of the BCA, and Perit Andre Pizzuto, President of the KTP, visited the site to review the works carried out over the past week. They were briefed in detail on the collaborative efforts between the BCA, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA), the Civil Protection Department (CPD), and the Police.

Perit Pizzuto praised the joint cooperation, highlighting the full collaboration between the BCA and other relevant authorities. While the KTP has launched an independent investigation alongside the BCA’s inquiry, both investigations are working closely with the shared goal of establishing the cause of the incident.

“The purpose of this visit, along with ongoing investigations, is to implement necessary measures on other construction sites to minimise the risk of similar occurrences.” Perit Pizzuto stated.

Perit Bonnici detailed the proactive measures taken before and after the incident. He explained that the Authority had evacuated all individuals potentially at risk prior to the accident. Further evacuations were also conducted at nearby buildings where demolition and clearing activities posed potential dangers.

Throughout the week, the BCA maintained constant communication with those affected. “We made 182 telephone calls, sent 241 messages, and held 24 meetings with owners and tenants. An official from the Authority remained on site continuously to provide assistance, which enabled those affected to be offered temporary accommodation,” concluded Perit Bonnici.

Since the incident, the Authority’s emergency number has handled over 420 contacts, reflecting the public’s concern and the ongoing efforts to manage the situation effectively.

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