The Permanent Delegation of Malta to UNESCO has announced that Malta has formally submitted a new World Heritage nomination to UNESCO to grant this official recognition to a number of fortifications around the island.

The nomination is entitled "The Maltese Fortifications of the Knights of St John".

This nomination refers to several fortified sites across Malta and Gozo, including Valletta, the Harbour fortifications, the Cottonera and Santa Margherita Lines, Mdina, and Ċittadella in Victoria, Gozo.

The Maltese permanent delegation to UNESCO stated that following this official formal submission, UNESCO advisory bodies and the World Heritage Committee will proceed with the required "extensive and rigorous evaluation process." To determine whether or not these sites deserve to be recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites, these international bodies will assess their Outstanding Universal value, integrity, authenticity, as well as the long-term protection of the proposed sites.

Malta currently has three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the capital city of Valletta, its seven megalithic temples, and the Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum.

The Maltese permanent delegation to UNESCO stated that this nomination is supported by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the Restoration and Preservation Directorate, Heritage Malta, the Planning Authority, the Malta National Library, and several other stakeholders.

It labelled this submitted nomination as "a collective national effort to recognise, protect, and promote Malta's outstanding cultural heritage."