PM welcomes von der Leyen’s Mediterranean Commissioner policy pledge

Prime Minister Robert Abela has welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement she would be creating a separate portfolio to deal with the Mediterranean, as part of her next team.

“This augurs well for the next five years where we look forward to work with President von der Leyen to develop further our comprehensive partnerships with southern neighbours,” the PM said on X on Thursday.

“The Mediterranean region should get undivided attention,” Von der Leyen told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg. “This is why I will appoint a Commissioner for the region, and propose a new Agenda for the Mediterranean together with [EU’s chief diplomat-designate] Kaja Kallas – because the future of the two Mediterranean shores is one and the same.”

The proposed appointed of a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean to better tackle the challenges of the region was made by Malta in 2023 during a European leaders' meeting in Croatia.

Abela had said there still existed circumstances which put countries like Malta at a disadvantage, including when it came to access to medicines and connectivity.

He insisted that prior to the introduction of legislation, impact assessments which took into consideration the realities of all member states, including Malta, should be carried out.

“In September 2023, at the EU MED9 meeting in Malta, we reignited an impetus to renew focus on the Mediterranean region against a background of developments that were unfolding in the Middle East and where increasing attention was being devoted to our eastern neighbourhood,” Abela said on X. “Malta had then put forward the idea of a Commissioner for the Med - an idea further developed & taken up by President von der Leyen in her political guidelines for the upcoming mandate, should she be confirmed in today’s vote following her nomination at the last European Council.”

Ursula von der Leyen will be seeking a second term as European Council President on Thursday.