PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER Neutrality and peace at the heart of Malta's position during the Extraordinary Summit of EU leaders

Prime Minister Robert Abela stresses the need for the European Union to build and ensure a future of peace, stability and security with full respect for the neutrality of our country

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela yesterday participated in an extraordinary meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels which focused on the theme of defence and security, and on Ukraine.

During this meeting, Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that while our country recognises the challenges linked to the security of the European Union, the way forward must continue to be one that prioritises dialogue and diplomacy.

He reiterated that guided by the principle of neutrality, our country does not believe that the solution to wars is weapons, and therefore stressed the need for more dialogue around the table.

The Prime Minister spoke about the need to safeguard the various aspects of security and defence, including those of cyber security, hybrid threats and critical infrastructure security, adding that therefore every country should have the choice to decide where to invest, and stressed that decisions taken at European Union level should be inclusive, so as not to exclude countries such as Malta which do not want to invest in lethal weapons.

Dr Robert Abela reiterated that at the heart of this important discussion, it has to be made clearer that the European Union is only working towards more security, resilience and stability, not towards more conflicts and escalation.

“We need to build a stronger and sovereign Europe-one that protects its security while remaining a force for peace. But we must do this responsibly, inclusively, and with full respect for our values and the realities of all Member States."

During the Summit, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that there is only one lasting solution for the war between Ukraine and Russia: that of peace.

Once again, Malta appealed to the European Union to take the opportunity and ensure that it takes advantage of the developments that are taking place in order to achieve sustainable peace in Ukraine, dialogue and full respect for the order that lies at the heart of international laws.

Dr Abela said that our country remains committed to supporting Ukraine, adding that in the spirit that our country has acted in its roles in the Security Council of the United Nations and even in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, it will continue to be an agent for dialogue and peace, mentioning also Malta's offer for our country to serve as a safe space for these diplomatic discussions.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Robert Abela also said that while Malta understands the urgency linked to the Russian aggression on Ukraine and the impact that on Eastern countries, the European Union should not ignore its other borders, including that of the south and therefore, full attention should be given to all borders.