The need for prudence, caution, and support for efforts aimed at peace and de-escalation were among the key messages conveyed by Prime Minister Robert Abela to fellow European leaders during the informal meeting of the European Council, held in Brussels on Thursday.

At this meeting, convened by European Council President António Costa against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, Prime Minister Robert Abela expressed Malta’s concern about the escalation and the tone that characterised discussions related to Greenland.

He reaffirmed Malta’s full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland, stressing that any decision regarding Greenland should be taken solely by Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

While welcoming the developments that have taken place in recent days in this regard, the Prime Minister emphasised that at this sensitive stage, communication must be measured and every step and action taken with caution. He warned against any move that could escalate tensions or place unnecessary geopolitical pressure on smaller states.

“Despite the fact that recent developments are positive, this is certainly not a concluded matter. On the contrary, I believe that the coming weeks will be even more sensitive, which means that we must be very measured in our words, measured in our actions, and consistently understand that we are facing a geopolitical situation the world has not seen in recent decades. This means that collectively, as a European Union, we have a responsibility to be extremely careful in everything we do and to act with maturity and responsibility so as not to do anything that could escalate tensions or place ourselves under pressure,” the Prime Minister said following the summit.

Discussions during the summit also addressed the situation in the Middle East and efforts towards a ceasefire in Gaza. The Prime Minister renewed Malta’s support for any initiative that promotes peace and dialogue. In this context, Dr Abela referred to discussions surrounding the Peace Board proposed by the United States, emphasising that such mechanisms should be used to bring parties together rather than divide them. He stressed the need for pragmatism and constructive dialogue in all efforts that move closer to the ultimate goal of peace.

“My intervention was that we should not necessarily view this board as something the European Union and all its Member States must immediately join, but rather see it as an opportunity. Instead of it being a point of divergence, we should seek to use it as a point of convergence,” the Prime Minister stated.

The Prime Minister concluded by reiterating Malta’s consistent commitment to dialogue, caution, and respect for international law as the only path towards sustainable peace.