Prime Minister Robert Abela has appealed for more equitable access to medicinal products within the single market for peripheral countries like Malta.

“We cannot allow Maltese patients to suffer and be at a disadvantage simply because our country’s geographical position,” Abela said at the end of a Council of Europe summit in Brussels.

Competitivity within the EU was one of the principle themes of the summit as discussions on the continuous challenges of the single market continued.

“In Malta, patients are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to accessing medicinal products, primarily because of the fragmentation that exists in the internal market which is permitted by current legislation in the pharmaceutical sector,” Abela told European leaders at the summit.

“We need to find a permanent solution and your support is important for this,” Abela continued, as he noted that the European Commission had recognised the severity of this problem as well.

Abela also said that it is important for the EU to work towards better connectivity, saying that this is the key for a level playing field to be ensured in the single market, especially for peripheral countries such as Malta.

The European Summit also dealt with the latest developments in Ukraine and the EU’s defensive plan.

On this, Abela said that Malta’s position has remained the same insofar as the country’s neutrality continues to be respected.

“As we already declared, we are not going to be participating in this plan by purchasing weapons, but we are going to remain focused on dialogue and remain open to facilitating peace talks,” Abela said, as he added that work must be done collectively to stop fighting permanently.

“Any agreement that is reached needs to respect the independence, sovereignity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, but a pragmatic approach which involves compromises around the negotiating table should be adopted with the active involvement of Ukraine, Russia, the EU, and the USA,” Abela added.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also attended the summit, and the situation in the Middle East, amongst others, was discussed with him.

“The consistency guided by international laws is crucial for the permanent end to fighting.  On Gaza, as we are doing on Ukraine, Malta will continue to advocate for peace,” Abela said.