Prime Minister Robert Abela used his New Year message to signal a further expansion of government plans to return strategic open spaces to the public, indicating that Fort Tigné could be added to a growing list of sites safeguarded from development and preserved for national use.

Speaking from Manoel Island, one of three areas the government has pledged to transform into national parks alongside White Rocks and Fort Campbell, Abela asked whether adding Fort Tigné would constitute "another victory for our people". The historic fort, he said, is a cultural heritage site of both national and international value that must be protected from development and returned to the public.

The Prime Minister has already ruled out any form of commercial development at Fort Tigné, including its conversion into a hotel, insisting the site is "hands off" from further construction after what he described as excessive development in the surrounding Tigné Point area. Asked previously whether the government would consider acquiring the fort, Abela stopped short of a formal commitment but confirmed that purchase or acquisition remains among the options being considered, stressing that preservation is the priority.

Two weeks ago, MIDI plc announced that on 16 December it entered into a promise of sale agreement with J. Portelli Projects Ltd to sell the lease for Fort Tigne. The property forms part of the land granted by the Government of Malta to MIDI by title of temporary emphytheusis for 99 years in virtue of a public deed of the 15 June 2000.

Following this development, Din l-Art Ħelwa announced that it had  sent a letter to the Prime Minister on 19 December presenting a "concrete, constructive and financially viable solution for the future of Fort Tigné". The organisation formally offered to match the financial terms of the current promise of sale and to take over the lease of Fort Tigné. Its goal is to acquire the fort to preserve, restore and repurpose it exclusively for cultural, educational and community purposes making it accessible to all..\.

Beyond land use, Abela framed his end of year address around economic resilience, social cohesion and long-term planning. He argued that a strong economy remains the foundation for supporting families and enabling them to take "the next steps" in their lives, pointing to measures such as free childcare, free public transport, energy subsidies and tax relief for middle-class parents. These policies, he said, have helped Malta weather international instability caused by wars and economic crises.

Speaking also as a father, Abela reflected on the need to manage digital and environmental change in a way that benefits future generations. He said Malta is well prepared for rapid digital transformation but must continue implementing reforms to ensure families and businesses gain from these changes rather than fall behind.

Central to this approach, he said, is Vision Malta 2050, the government's first comprehensive long-term plan, built on wide consultation and structured around three pillars: placing Malta among the world's top 10 countries for human development, achieving a family income level one-third higher than the EU average, and ranking within the EU's top five for life satisfaction.

Abela described Budget 2026 as a "historic" budget focused on families and outlined a series of major projects expected to begin or advance in the coming year. These include the regeneration of the Grand Harbour, a new mental health hospital integrated into Mater Dei, a larger emergency department, a 300-bed specialised hospital for the elderly at St Vincent De Paul, continued investment in sports facilities such as the Ħal Far racetrack, and further land reclamation projects building on the Malta Freeport model.

On foreign policy, Abela reaffirmed Malta's role as a voice for peace, citing its stance on Ukraine and continued humanitarian support for war-affected children, including Palestinians. He concluded by calling for unity and public participation, saying the coming year should mark "the next leap forward" for the country.

The full speech can be found below

Dear friends,

I greet you from Manoel Island.

A site with a beautiful history and an even more beautiful future.

One out of three spaces which this year we have pledged to gift back to you and your families.

In recent weeks, we have started to consult with our dear children. Thank you for helping us in this process. I am certain that together we can achieve this target.

Past contractual obligations make this a more laborious matter; however, we are resolute and ready to return these places to the people, so that we can have new national parks.

Manoel Island. White Rocks. Fort Campbell.

And if we were to add Fort Tigné, wouldn't this be another victory for our people?

A cultural heritage of national and international value which we are determined to save from development and return to our people.

This is the Malta that I want our children to live in.

A country where you can spend your best moments with your loved ones.

As what's more beautiful than creating memories with parents, grandparents, grandchildren, children and friends?

As a Government we were never disheartened in front of new challenges and always saw how to turn them into an opportunity, without ever giving up.

Last year we faced the effects of the wars and economic crises that brought international stagnation.

But united, as one people, with wisdom and determination, none of these challenges managed to stop the progress of our country.

We have much to be proud of.

We are proud of a strong economy that offers a strong future to all families, and quality careers for our children.

A strong economy which has translated into more income for our families, and new opportunities for businesses that have chosen to invest in Malta.

It is also through a strong economy that we can invest heavily to improve people's lives.

In recent years, as a united country that works for the common good, we have introduced support measures that other countries can only dream of.

These include free childcare, free public transport by land and sea, energy subsidies and the removal of income tax on middle-class parents.

The list goes on.

We have given legal certainty to the right of loving whom ever you chose to love, without any discrimination, because we truly believe in equality and that nothing should hold back one's aspirations.

This is part of our country's success.

A success which is all down to your efforts.

With our decisions together.

Faced with greater challenges than those faced by bigger nations, you have not stopped working in the interest of your families. And for this I thank you.

This is the basis of our Gozitan and Maltese economic and social success.

Diligence.

The love of a mother.

The love of a father.

Who give everything for their children.

Parents who want to give them the best opportunity.

The best start.

The best support.

The love shown by our elderly.

Not only for their children, but for their country.

It was they who built our country from scratch and we need to continue building on their success.

I am a father myself.

Lydia and I want an even better country for our daughter.

We want our daughter to have the best opportunities to move forward towards what she aspires.

An aspiration we share with all other parents.

In a forward-looking Malta, no one should be allowed to fall behind.

I want to keep moving forward.

Health, education, arts, sport, culture, business. Everything that matters to our lives.

That is why we are working for more reforms to advance our country further.

As with any other country, a time of an even bigger change is coming.

Perhaps the greatest changes ever witnessed in human history.

The advance of digitalisation will result into a full transformation of our society.

Experts agree that our country is one of the best prepared for the digital world, but we still need to implement reforms so that everything we do will act as an advantage for our families and businesses.

It is in this context that we shall launch Malta Vision 2050.

The first comprehensive long-term plan for our country, emanating from wide-ranging consultation.

A vision that sets three novel goals:

1.    Placing amongst the top 10 countries in the world for human development;

2.    Achieving a family income value which exceeds the EU average by one third; and

3.    To reach a life satisfaction level which ranges among the top five in the European Union.

It is when we reach these goals for our families, which I believe that we will, we would have truly achieved a new prosperity.

This bold vision required of us to put forward the best Budget in history.

A Budget through which we are investing in families.

This New Year is a crucial year for the future of our nation.

We will implement more important projects.

In the health sector we will see the start of works on the building of a new Mental Health Hospital which will form part of Mater Dei, together with the building of a larger Emergency Department.

After months of preparations, the new year will also mark the start of works on a specialised 300-bed hospital for our elderly at St Vincent De Paul, built on the concept of intermediate care.

We will launch the Grand Harbour Regeneration Masterplan and the process by which we shall see this gem of a project turn from a dream to a reality.

In 2026 we will also advance more investment in sports facilities including the continuation and eventual completion of the Ħal Far racetrack.

We will also push for more land reclamation projects, such as the one currently being carried out at the Malta Freeport, adding others which can be even larger in scope.

We have given a lot to our country, and I assure you that we will now give even more.

We will remain decisive as we have always been, for the good of Gozitan and Maltese families, in the interest of our country, first and foremost.

As we have just successfully concluded our Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Malta will continue being an important voice for peace in the world.

In recent days we were only one of four Member States that while being in favour of the EU's support to the Ukrainian people, we have strongly advocated that this is done with a different instrument from what was being initially proposed. This to avoid new tensions and to truly give peace a chance. After lengthy negotiations, our arguments prevailed, and an agreement was achieved. We showed courage and good decision-making.

So many thousands of innocent lives of parents, grandparents, and children have been lost and are still being lost.

We continued to provide humanitarian aid and a better future to wounded children, including Palestinians. We have given them shelter in our own home.

As wars and an arms race ensue, Malta has remained sovereign, in full respect of our Constitution and has continued to live in peace and social progress.

We must never stop working for peace.

Peace is the key to the prosperity that we want to protect for our families.

The new year should be the year in which we make the next leap forward.

That is why we want everyone's ideas.

To realise new dreams and achieve increasingly ambitious objectives.

I am sure that is what you want for our country.

I will work even harder to make your aspirations a reality.

Together, we will succeed.

On behalf of my wife Lydia, our daughter Giorgia-Mae, and myself I wish you and your families a year of unity, health and peace.

Greetings to you all.