Energy Minister Miriam Dalli called on the European Union to give Member States greater flexibility to introduce immediate measures to protect households and businesses from rising energy pressures, the Ministry for Energy and the Environment said in a statement.
Dalli made the appeal during a meeting of the EU Energy Council in Luxembourg, where she stressed the need for a common European approach to energy security without imposing identical solutions on every country.
Against a backdrop of uncertainty in international energy markets, Dalli said EU Member States should act collectively where cooperation can deliver better results, particularly in negotiations and efforts to safeguard the security of energy supplies.
However, she warned that a common approach should not prevent individual countries from adopting measures suited to their specific circumstances.
"Faced with another energy crisis, we need a Europe that acts together while giving Member States the flexibility to take decisions that reflect their own realities," Dalli said.
"When we negotiate together, we have greater bargaining power. However, every country faces different challenges, and we cannot have a one-size-fits-all solution," she added.
Dalli said flexibility was particularly important for Malta, allowing the government to respond to pressures in the energy sector while keeping consumer costs manageable and strengthening the country's energy infrastructure.
She said that maintaining affordable energy tariffs for Maltese and Gozitan households and businesses remained a priority, alongside efforts to improve the country's resilience against future challenges.
"Our priority remains clear: to keep energy tariffs affordable for Maltese and Gozitan families and businesses," the Minister said.
She added that European energy policy must recognise the different circumstances faced by Member States, particularly island nations such as Malta.
The Minister's remarks highlight Malta's position that EU-wide energy policies should account for differences in national infrastructure, energy security needs and the economic pressures faced by consumers.
Dalli also emphasised the importance of strengthening the resilience of strategic energy infrastructure, particularly cross-border connections linking Member States to energy networks beyond their borders.
Such infrastructure is an important consideration in European efforts to improve energy security and prepare for potential disruptions in international energy markets.
Dalli said the EU must strike a balance between collective action and the ability of individual Member States to make timely decisions in response to their own energy needs.
She said that European energy policy should ultimately protect consumers' interests while safeguarding the security of energy supplies.