The importance of connectivity – by air, sea and through energy infrastructure – was the dominant theme of three days of meetings held in Malta and Gozo by a European Parliament Delegation from the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee.

MEPs Mr Virginijus Sinkevičius (Greens, LT), Ms Nina Carberry (EPP, IE), Ms Elena Nevado Del Campo (EPP, ES), Mr Sérgio Gonçalves (S&D, PT), Mr Daniel Attard (S&D, MT) and Mr Arash Saeidi (The Left, FR) met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Ministers for Transport and for Gozo, and MPs from both sides of the House. They had the opportunity to hear directly from stakeholders about the challenges Malta and Gozo face in these sectors as they seek to become more sustainable.

For the first time ever, an official European Parliament committee delegation has included Gozo as part of its formal programme — marking a historic milestone for the island.

The visit, held between 26–28 May, brought members of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) to Gozo, shining a much-needed EU spotlight on the island’s connectivity challenges, seasonal tourism pressures, and infrastructure needs.

This is the first time that an MEP committee delegation has formally visited Gozo, a significant moment not only for the island but for Malta’s role within the European Union. The move signals growing recognition of Gozo’s unique geographic and economic realities at the highest levels of EU decision-making.

📍 The current delegation includes:
* Virginijus Sinkevičius – Head of Delegation
* Nina Carberry – EPP, Ireland
* Elena Nevado Del Campo – EPP, Spain
* Sergio Gonçalves – S&D, Portugal
* Arash Saedi – The Left, France
* Daniel Attard – S&D, Malta

🇲🇹 Daniel Attard has also made history as the first Maltese MEP to sit on the TRAN committee as a full member, further strengthening Malta’s voice in the EU’s transport and tourism policies.

The delegation’s programme includes site visits, discussions with local stakeholders, and assessments of regional challenges. The visit will conclude with a press conference at Europe House in Valletta on Wednesday at 12:30 PM.

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Dr. Agius, appointed EPP Rapporteur by the PETI and SANT Committees, has tabled 14 amendments to strengthen EU disability rights beyond 2024.

Peter Agius’s role aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy all fundamental rights, including the right to work, to participate in the social and political life of their country, and even to form a family.

He emphasised that access to these rights must be considered as essential EU freedoms.

Among the key proposals, Agius called for the integration of disability-specific initiatives into the EU’s AI and digital transformation agenda. His amendments encourage leveraging technologies such as speech recognition to improve communication for persons with hearing and speech impairments.

Recognising the importance of civic participation, Agius proposed measures to promote the involvement of persons with disabilities not only as voters but also as candidates. He called on the European Commission to assess and act upon the 2024 election outcomes to further enable electoral inclusion.

Further amendments stress the need for inclusive education from early childhood through to higher education, and for equipping educators with inclusive teaching methodologies. Agius also highlighted the vital role of family and informal carers, urging for their recognition and support within national and EU frameworks.

Accessibility is a core theme running through Agius’ proposals, with specific references to physical access, readable labels, and design for all, including through initiatives like the New European Bauhaus. He also advocated for stronger involvement of the Disability Platform and representative organisations in legislative processes, rooted in the principle of “nothing about us without us.”

“These proposals are about turning promises into practical action,” Agius stated. “The EU must lead by example, embedding accessibility and inclusion across every policy, and empowering persons with disabilities to shape the decisions that affect their lives.”

The proposed amendments form part of the ongoing debate on strengthening the EU’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring that every European, regardless of ability, can thrive in an inclusive society.

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Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli launched the Saving Our Blue campaign for the seventh consecutive year.

The primary objective of this campaign is to raise public awareness about the negative impacts of littering, the importance of reducing waste generation, and the need to transition from single-use plastics to sustainable, reusable alternatives.

To further promote marine conservation and the protection of Marine Protected Areas, an activity book was launched which includes a variety of educational activities all themed around the marine environment.

Minister Miriam Dalli said, “Every child can be a champion for change and sustainability. We will help them lead the way in their communities by giving them the necessary tools and knowledge. When children learn about sustainable practices, they inspire their friends and encourage their families to adopt greener habits. Together, we can nurture a generation of environmentally conscious young leaders who will shape a more sustainable future for all.”

The activity book, available in Maltese and English, aims to educate young readers in an engaging and interactive manner.

Starting this coming scholastic year, this activity book will be distributed to all Year 4 students across Malta and Gozo.

With new branding, a redesigned campaign website will also be launched during this summer’s edition to enhance accessibility and usability, supporting greater engagement in campaign initiatives and clean-up activities.

Building on the success of the Virtual Reality (VR) project launched in 2023, the campaign now includes immersive experiences of 14 Marine Protected Areas, adding new sites like the Azure Window Ruins in Dwejra, Hephaestus wreck, Filfla, Billinghurst Cave, Um el Faroud wreck, Cirkewwa Marine Park at night, and Mellieħa Bay Posidonia Meadows.

Furthermore, for the third consecutive year, ballot bins will be reinstalled across various rocky and sandy beaches throughout Malta, Gozo, and Comino. A total of 60 ballot bins have been deployed this year to encourage proper waste disposal in coastal areas.

The Saving Our Blue Campaign was launched as part of a conference marking the progress of the project ‘Neptune – Restoring Our Posidonia Oceanica Seagrass Meadows’, a pilot collaboration between the MEDSEA Foundation, the Foundation de la Mer and the University of Malta.

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