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Republic of Malta

Malta is a southern European island country in the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital is Valletta. It joined the European Union in 2004, and the eurozone in 2008.

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All Content on this topic

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola

Malta's Metsola reelected as EU Parliament president

She won a resounding victory despite criticism of not having done enough to advance women's rights at home.
PoliticsJuly 16, 2024
Man in Dublin, Ireland, banging a drum with the familiar red-white-green-and-black flag

Spain, Ireland poised to back Palestinian state

A number of EU member states are lining up behind an initiative by Spain and Ireland to recognize a Palestinian state.
PoliticsMay 20, 2024
A mural showing two men kissing

LGBTQ+ rights in Europe: Malta tops most progressive list

A new ranking and study shed light on the continent's most and least progressive countries on LGBTQ+ rights.
Human RightsMay 17, 2024
A photo of a visa for Australia in a passport

Why are 'golden visa' schemes being scrapped?

Australia is the latest country to ax golden visas for wealthy foreign investors, in an effort to battle corruption.
BusinessJanuary 25, 2024
Dokumentarfilm | Modernes Mittelmeer - Malta

Mediterranean journey - Malta

Jaafar Abdul Karim travels through one of the smallest countries in Europe: Malta.
LifestyleDecember 8, 202326:06 min
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the OSCE meeting, in Skopje, North Macedonia, on December 1, 2023

Malta secures OSCE chair as Russia relents on veto

Several nations boycotted the summit in Skopje due to Russia's attempts at crippling the OSCE's decision-making.
PoliticsDecember 1, 2023
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan

US national security adviser, Chinese diplomat talk in Malta

The talks took place over Saturday and Sunday in Malta, as the diplomats try to seek common ground over thorny issues.
ConflictsSeptember 18, 2023
A German passport is seen with a map of Europe

Why are some passports more powerful than others?

Traveling the world is hassle-free with some passports, but nightmarish with others. What explains this imbalance?
TravelJuly 13, 2023
A participant at the Malta Pride Parade surrounded by a giant rainbow flag

LGBTQ rights in Europe: Malta leads, Poland lags

A new ranking shows a clear geographical divide in Europe when it comes to progress on LGBTQ rights.
EqualityMay 17, 2023
The Italian coastguard on Lampedusa

Eight asylum seekers killed off Italian island of Lampedusa

The coastguard was able to save 42 people on the vessel that had gone adrift.
MigrationFebruary 3, 2023
A person with number 5 written on their hand holds a picture of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia during a protest march on the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Galizia

Malta marks fifth anniversary of journalist's murder

Investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb explosion in October 2017.
CrimeOctober 17, 2022
A protester holds up a picture of murdered reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia

Malta court jails 2 men for 40 years over journalist murder

The two brothers pleaded guilty over the car-bomb murder of Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
CrimeOctober 14, 2022
Flags of Malta and the EU side by side

EU takes Malta to court for 'golden passports'

Malta will take on the European Union for its scheme to give EU passports in exchange for investments.
Law and JusticeSeptember 29, 2022
An oil tank battery at the Novokuibyshevsk Refinery in Russia

Ukraine: EU struggles to find unity on Russian oil embargo

The 27 EU member states deliberating a gradual ban on Russian oil imports. Hungary and Slovakia have opposed the move.
PoliticsMay 6, 2022
Cover of Maltese passport

EU threatens to sue Malta over 'golden passport' scheme

Malta has two months to respond to an official EU notice over the scheme or face legal action.
Law and JusticeApril 6, 2022
Pope Francis had to take an elevator to his place due to health problems

Pope Francis visits Malta, urges support for migrants

Francis is said to urge EU nations to welcome migrants from Ukraine, but also those trying to cross the Mediterranean.
ReligionApril 2, 2022
Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela, accompanied by his wife Lydia Abela , waves to Labour party supporters during campaigning

Malta's Labour party claims election victory

The prime minister of Malta says his party has been victorious in the country's general election.
PoliticsMarch 27, 2022
Cannabis plant

Malta approves legalizing recreational cannabis

Germany and Luxembourg are expected to follow suit early next year.
SocietyDecember 14, 2021
People eating and drinking at the Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain

The EU countries keeping COVID numbers down

Many countries are experiencing a fourth wave, but some are bucking the negative trend. A look at who is doing better.
HealthNovember 8, 2021
A protestor holds a photo of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia during a vigil demanding justice

Is the EU doing enough to protect journalists?

Four years after the death of reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia many feel EU pledges to protect journalists aren't enough.
Press FreedomOctober 16, 2021
Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, who was arrested in connection with an investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, leaves the Courts of Justice in Valletta, Malta. November, 2019.

Malta: Businessman to go on trial for murder

Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered after investigating a corruption case involving businessman Yorgen Fenech.
PoliticsAugust 18, 2021
A protester holds up a picture of murdered reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia on the fourth day of a demonstration outside Malta's prime minister's office in Valletta, Malta, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019

Malta failed to protect murdered journalist, says inquiry

A public inquiry has said that the Maltese state failed to protect Daphne Caruana Galizia from threats to her life.
Rule of LawJuly 29, 2021
Ministers of Med5 countries speak together in Athens

5 EU states urge others to take in more migrants

Ministers from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain have called for changes to the EU's pact on migration and asylum.
PoliticsMarch 20, 2021
Police inspect the wreckage of a car bomb believed to have killed journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia close to her home in Bidnija, Malta

Malta: Journalist killer jailed for 15 years

Vincent Muscat has been jailed over the 2017 car bombing murder
Law and JusticeFebruary 23, 2021
Medicine in a pill box for a person with HIV

Malta HIV patients forced to crowdsource meds

Malta says a delayed British shipment is causing the bottleneck, but rights groups blame the government.
PoliticsDecember 16, 2020
Inside Europe Teaser

Inside Europe 20.11.2020

Britain's health system faces staff shortage of healthcare workers - Hungary and Poland veto EU's budget - The fours seasons of corona - Exhibition of works by exiled Turkish artist - Could face masks for schoolchildren be counterproductive? - The Danish government's mink cull - Online yoga during the pandemic - Much ado about Lidl - Bird hunting on Malta
PoliticsNovember 20, 202054:59 min
A finch in a cage in Malta

Malta tries to turning bird trappers into scientists

Trapping wild birds is illegal in most countries of the European Union. But some countries – like Italy and France – still allow it as a hobby and for food. In Malta, hunting birds is a tradition that many men don’t want to give up. The government there is now proposing that traditional trappers become citizen scientists. But there are doubts that this will work.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 5, 202008:27 min
Refugees in a boat by the Maersk Etienne tanker

Amnesty slams Malta over refugees

The UN has also called on the country to allow 27 migrants currently on a cargo ship to disembark.
MigrationSeptember 8, 2020
Refugees on the Sea Watch 4 look at the Maersk Etienne

Desperate migrants jump from stranded ship

Three people have jumped into the Mediterranean Sea near Malta from a stranded tanker that rescued them a month ago.
PoliticsSeptember 6, 2020
Former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in 2019

Malta: Ex-prime minister questioned in murder probe

Former Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat resigned over his handling of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder.
Law and JusticeAugust 22, 2020
A bus awaits the migrants from the boat

Reluctant Malta lets migrants ashore

Malta's government denounces fellow EU member states for refusing to accept the boat migrant relocations
SocietyJune 7, 2020
erman Chancellor Angela Merkel during the Informal meeting of European Union heads of state or government in Valletta, Malta

Maltese envoy quits over anti-Merkel Nazi slur

Malta's envoy to Finland has quit after comparing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Adolf Hitler.
PoliticsMay 11, 2020
igrants line up to enter an inspection tent after disembarking

Malta urges Pope to take in migrants

Valletta has urged the Vatican to take in a boat migrant family and told other EU states to do "their fair share."
PoliticsMay 5, 2020
Migrants on a Maltese armed forces vessel

Malta to keep migrants at sea until EU acts

The island nation says it will keep 57 migrants on a ship anchored at sea until the EU can rehome them.
Human RightsMay 1, 2020
Inner tubes float on water

Coronavirus crisis hampers migrant sea rescues

NGOs say Italy and Malta are using the coronavirus pandemic as a pretext for closing ports to migrant rescue vessels.
MigrationApril 17, 2020
Migrants on a rubber boat in the Mediterranean Sea

Malta ignores migrants’ sea distress call: NGO

Malta is ignoring calls for help from migrants at risk of drowning at sea, rescue organization Alarm Phone has said.
March 14, 2020
Slovakai | ermordeter Journalist Jan Kuciak und Martina Kusnirova | Freedom Square

In memoriam: The immortal search for truth

Two years after Kuciak's murder, it is still unclear who ordered his death.
SocietyFebruary 21, 2020
A protester holds up an image of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

Malta police chief resigns over slain journalist case

New Prime Minister Robert Abela has also vowed to improve the rule of law in Malta.
CrimeJanuary 17, 2020
Robert Abela and Chris Fearne sit together at a Labour Party Congress in Paola, Malta

Malta: Robert Abela to be next prime minister

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was forced to resign over a probe into the murder of an investigative journalist.
PoliticsJanuary 12, 2020
Captain Claus-Peter Reisch

Malta: German migrant rescue ship captain wins appeal

Claus-Peter Reisch helped over 200 migrants reach European Union countries.
Law and JusticeJanuary 7, 2020
Malta Mord an Daphne Caruana Galizia

Inside Europe: EU puts pressure on Maltese leader

EU lawmakers during the week voted to support a resolution calling on Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to step down with immediate effect. They argued he risks compromising a probe into the brutal murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, an investigative journalist who exposed government corruption. Keith Walker speaks with DW correspondent Teri Schultz about the latest developments in Brussels.
PoliticsDecember 20, 201904:39 min
Malta Mord an Daphne Caruana Galizia

How a journalist's murder haunts Malta's ruling elite

Malta's political elite finds themselves entangled in the murder investigation of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
PoliticsDecember 5, 2019
Protests for murdered journalist in Malta

Malta-EU relations 'damaged' by journalist's murder

Malta's prime minister won't yet resign, despite his alleged ties to the murder of a prominent journalist.
SocietyDecember 3, 2019
Malta demonstration

Protesters blockade Malta's parliament

Outraged protesters have prevented politicians, including the prime minister, from exiting the Maltese assembly.
PoliticsDecember 3, 2019
Barbara Wesel Kommentarbild App *PROVISORISCH*

Malta is a wake-up call

Barbara Wesel
Within a few years, Malta has turned into a mafia state — a wake-up call for the EU, says DW's Barbara Wesel.
CrimeDecember 2, 2019
Joseph Muscat

Malta's premier to resign over murder probe

Amid pressure over a probe in the death of an investigative journalist, Joseph Muscat has said he'll resign next month.
CrimeDecember 1, 2019
Protesters hold up signs with the murdered journalist's face in front of Joseph's Muscat office

Malta murder brings Muscat to the edge

Europe was shocked by the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, an anti-corruption reporter and tireless political critic.
CrimeDecember 1, 2019
Yorgen Fenech in Valletta

Malta charges businessman over journalist murder

Fenech has been linked with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who may resign over the case.
PoliticsNovember 30, 2019
Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat gives a statement to announce the arrest of eight suspects in the Oct. 16 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to resign

The Maltese prime minister has announced his resignation is imminent according to a leading national newspaper.
PoliticsNovember 29, 2019
Matthew Caruana Galizia at demonstrations in Valletta

Malta PM refuses pardon in case of murdered journalist

Yorgen Fenech offered to testify against top politicians in connection with the 2017 murder of a journalist.
Law and JusticeNovember 29, 2019