Malta seeks EU emissions rule revisions to protect competitiveness

Malta has joined several European Union member states in calling for a revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The goal is to protect economic competitiveness while maintaining climate objectives.

During an EU Environment Council meeting, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli emphasized the need for a predictable system that provides a realistic decarbonization pathway for all member states. She noted that the framework must account for national specificities, particularly for countries heavily dependent on maritime transport and aviation. Dalli warned of potential carbon leakage, where maritime and aviation traffic might shift to non-EU countries with less stringent climate requirements, thereby undermining the environmental benefits of EU policies.

In a separate development, Transport Malta and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings signed a Shore Power Purchase Agreement. This initiative allows passenger ships to connect to Malta’s electricity grid while docked, reducing emissions and improving air quality in surrounding communities through the Shore-to-Ship project.