Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that the government is set to issue an international public call for wind turbines and solar panels to be constructed out at sea.

Abela announced this during a discussion with young people about various topics, including renewable energy, at Castille Palace.

This news follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Malta and Libya last month to explore a joint cooperation regarding an interconnector for the provision of renewable energy between the two countries.

During the discussion, Abela spoke about the importance of moving towards cleaner energy to create a healthier environment and reach the European Union's goals.

In next week’s parliamentary session, Abela said that MPs will be discussing an Act establishing Exclusive Economic Zones outside Malta’s territory which it has jurisdiction over. The government plans to generate renewable energy from these zones, he said.

The young people present were between 16 to 35 years old and are all going through the application process to be part of the recently set-up Youth Advisory Forum. Eventually, eight applicants will be selected to form the first group of the Youth Advisory Forum, along with the representative from the National Youth Council, Michaela Vassallo.

The topics they discussed with the Prime Minister were the environment, women in politics, planning, tourism, mental health, gender equality, artificial intelligence, and civil rights.

When discussing planning, Abela mentioned the establishment of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) which acts as a regulator for the sector. He further mentioned how the government is currently undergoing a process to slowly introduce the licensing of contractors.

Abela expressed his gratitude to the young people for attending and he pledged that the government will continue to move forward with their joint ideas.

Once the members of the Youth Advisory Forum are chosen by the Selection Committee together with the National Youth Council, the Youth Advisory Forum will start having regular meetings with the Prime Minister for a period of twelve months. During these meetings, they will provide advice to the government on laws, strategies, and plans being discussed locally or on an international level.

Also present were Education Minister Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Youths Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul and the National Youth Council.