Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia, earlier today held a high-level meeting with Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), who are currently visiting Malta to assess and discuss ongoing developments and challenges in the transport and tourism sectors.
During the meeting, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia underscored Malta's unique transport realities as one of the most densely populated countries in the world, a statement issued by his office said. He highlighted how the rapid increase in both population and tourism over the past decade has placed mounting pressure on the nation's infrastructure. Despite these challenges, he noted that Malta continues to face and address this evolving reality through the right structures and strategic planning. aimed at meeting the country's long-term mobility and connectivity needs.
Discussions also focused on the critical role of sustainable air and sea transport in strengthening Malta's economic resilience. Speaker Farrugia noted that improved air connectivity has been instrumental in driving record tourism arrivals, while new fast ferry services have contributed to reduced congestion and improved inter-island mobility.
The Speaker reaffirmed Malta's commitment to greener mobility solutions, including the introduction of free public transport-both by bus and sea ferry-since October 2022. This national initiative is aimed at reducing private car dependency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting Malta's efforts to contribute to the EU's climate goals. Acknowledging the essential role of transport and tourism in the national economy, Speaker Farrugia emphasised that, as an island state located on the periphery of Europe, Malta's connectivity challenges are structural and not optional.
He urged the European Union to continue taking into account the country's geographical specificities and to support Malta through tailored transport and tourism policies. While the Maltese Parliament does not currently have a dedicated standing committee for transport and tourism, Speaker Farrugia assured the delegation that these sectors remain central to national legislative priorities and discussions. The European Parliament delegation was composed of TRAN Committee members Virginijus Sinkevičius, Nina Carberry, Elena Nevado Del Campo, Sérgio Gonçalves, and Arash Saeidi, and was accompanied by Maltese MEP Daniel Attard