Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia, during his Welcome Address at the Standing Committee Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), extended Malta's heartfelt welcome to parliamentary delegates and "reaffirmed the country's commitment to the shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law", a statement issued by his office said Friday.
"From the heart of the Mediterranean, we offer not only geography but moral geography. We offer the weight of history, the wisdom of survival, and the hope of solidarity," Farrugia said.
He noted that Malta's fourth assumption of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers is not ceremonial, but a call to conscience-coming at a time of global crisis, democratic erosion, disinformation, and the normalisation of hate in political discourse.
The Speaker outlined Malta's vision for its Presidency as one rooted in principled engagement. It seeks to strengthen democratic institutions, protect marginalised communities, advance the rights and dignity of children, deepen the role of civil society in participatory governance, and support peoples suffering from war and injustice. The Presidency also aims to contribute meaningfully to the renewal of the Council of Europe in the face of digital disruption and shifting geopolitical realities.
Highlighting Malta's recent democratic reforms, Speaker Farrugia pointed to the strengthening of the judiciary, the reinforcement of the Office of the Ombudsman, the adoption of anti-corruption legislation, improved protections for whistleblowers, measures to promote media freedom and journalistic integrity, progressive civil rights laws, gender equality initiatives, inclusive education policies, disability rights implementation, and climate legislation responding to intergenerational responsibility.
Recalling his own intervention in Strasbourg on violence against politicians, Speaker Farrugia warned that such violence is "not merely an assault on individuals but an attempt to dismantle the very institutions that uphold the rule of law, representation, and justice."
He concluded by underlining that Malta's Presidency would be marked by moral clarity and institutional responsibility-offering not neutrality in the face of injustice, but steadfast commitment to the values that define the Council of Europe.
The Standing committee was also addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, and President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Dr Ian Borg, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Theodoros Rousopoulos. Present also the Secretary General of the Assembly, Ms. Despina Chatzivassiliou, the Head of the Maltese Parliamentary Delegation, Naomi Cachia, and members of the Standing Committee along with parliamentarians from the Council of Europe's 46 member states.