A reform of Malta's Family Court is expected to come into force from 1 October, with changes aimed at reducing delays, strengthening mediation and placing children at the centre of proceedings, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.

Speaking during a telephone interview on party media, Abela said a legal notice setting out the Family Court reform would be published this week, with most of the changes expected to come into effect in October.

The reform is intended to reduce delays in family proceedings and place greater emphasis on mediation, particularly in cases involving separation and disputes between couples.

Abela said the reform had children at its centre, arguing that minors are often the biggest victims when families go through difficult legal proceedings.

The changes are also expected to introduce new rules concerning maintenance payments and access to children, while giving particular attention to cases involving domestic violence.

Abela said people involved in Family Court cases, including children, can often experience significant psychological trauma and that the existing system needed to be updated to reflect the realities of modern society.

He said mediation would be strengthened to make it easier for couples to reconcile or reach a consensual separation without having to go through lengthy court proceedings.

The Prime Minister also highlighted recently introduced enforcement measures aimed particularly at tourists, including changes to on-the-spot fines.

He said the traditional enforcement process could take too long, particularly when dealing with people who are only in Malta for a short period and could leave the country before a citation was effectively enforced.

Under the system, police officers can issue on-the-spot fines when they witness certain offences, with the minimum fine having been increased from €25 to €50 to strengthen its deterrent effect.

He also said that where unpaid fines accumulated to €200 or more, a person could be referred to the principal immigration officer, who could assess whether their continued presence in Malta was compatible with the country's interests.

This could result in a tourist being removed from Malta before the end of their holiday. Abela said the measures were intended to send a clear message that visitors must respect Malta's laws and that residents should not have to suffer disruption because others chose not to follow them.

He said around 500 on-the-spot fines had already been issued since the measures came into force, with 95% of them paid.

The Prime Minister also pointed to continued investment in Malta's law enforcement agencies, including improvements to protective equipment and working conditions for police officers.

He referred to visits to the Rapid Intervention Unit and Special Intervention Unit, saying the investment in equipment was helping officers deal with the challenges they face.

Abela linked the investment to what he described as a significant decline in Malta's crime rate and said the government would continue investing in law enforcement.

Asked about legislative work continuing during the summer recess, Abela said the government had maintained a strong pace of implementation since 1 June.

He described the first 100 days of the legislature as particularly important in setting the direction for the next five years.

Abela also highlighted energy price stability as an example of the government's approach, saying Malta was continuing to offer stability despite volatile international conditions.

He said the government would continue investing in energy stability as part of its efforts to address the cost-of-living pressures facing households.

The Prime Minister also discussed ongoing reforms concerning appeals in the planning sector.

He said the reforms would address a legal gap which could result in buildings constructed while a planning appeal was pending later being deemed illegal following a court judgment.

Abela said the situation was undesirable for all parties involved and that work was underway to address it.

He also referred to ongoing work by the Building and Construction Authority and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

Abela concluded by thanking members of the law enforcement agencies, public cleanliness workers and employees across both the public and private sectors for their contribution to Malta's economic and social progress.