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Good afternoon to all.

It is indeed a pleasure to welcome the President of the European Council, my dear friend, António Costa.

Back to Malta once again, Merbl, as is António.

Malta values the close cooperation we have built with President Costa over these last years and the constructive spirit that he brings to the European Council.

His calm and consensus-driven leadership helps keep our discussions focused on the choices and subjects that matter.

Today's visit was a good opportunity to exchange views on the priorities that will shape our work in the months ahead and on how Europe can translate common ambition into credible results. The agenda is, of course, demanding.

The Union's next long-term budget, the multiannual financial framework, global competitiveness, migration, enlargement,

Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East.

Each requires clear direction, careful preparation,

and a readiness to compromise.

For Malta, the objective is straightforward, a European agenda that is fair to all the 27 member states,

practical in its design, and capable of delivering for all citizens.

A central part of our discussion, of course, centred.

Around the next multi-annual financial framework for the years 2028 leading up until 2034,

which will determine how Europe matches its priorities with credible resources.

Malta enters these complex negotiations in a constructive manner.

Recognising the need to invest in security, competitiveness,

resilience, and Europe's capacity to act.

The future European budget must be fair, balanced and credible.

It must preserve solidarity, reflect different national realities, priorities and specificities,

and ensure that European investment benefits citizens all across the Union.

For Malta, cohesion policy remains central because it is also A competitiveness policy.

It strengthens infrastructure, skills, innovation, and connectivity, enabling each and every member state and region to contribute more fully to Europe's growth and also,

and very importantly, to the single market.

Europe will not become stronger by weakening the instruments that help member states reduce disparities,

build capacity. And expand opportunity.

This is not only about fairness, it is also a condition for a stronger and more resilient union.

We welcome the progress made in recognising Malta's specific circumstances under the Cypriot Presidency and the relative Nagobo,

and will work to preserve and strengthen these positive elements under the Irish Presidency.

Further work at leaders' level will of course be needed to secure an overall balance that can command broad support.

One of the main sticking points is The financing of the European budget.

Malta cannot support the introduction of taxation at a European level.

We will engage constructively on fair and proportionate financing options,

but any solution must respect the balance on which the Union is built.

This is a principled and long standing position of ours as well.

National competences are not simply a matter of institutional form, they allow Member States to legislate in ways that reflect their economies,

their societies and constitutional systems, while contributing to common European objectives that flexibility is part of the European project,

not a departure from it. We also discussed European competitiveness.

Malta supports a deeper single market,

stronger investment, greater innovation and meaningful simplification.

That means supporting European industry and production while ensuring that delivery is felt in lower costs,

less unnecessary bureaucracy, better access to finance, and improved. Opportunities all across the Union.

This is where the MFF and the Single Market must work with each other and reinforce each other.

A stronger European economy will only be credible if all Member States can participate in actual practise.

For smaller and island Member States like Malta,

maritime, aviation, digital.

And energy links are what makes our full participation indeed possible.

This is a point that I The name and on behalf of Malta make consistently at European Council level,

it is not acceptable that people and businesses in Malta should face higher costs or reduce choice simply because they live and operate from an island member state.

A single market that works fairly for all must take these particular realities in a serious manner.

So when we speak about strengthening Europe's industrial base,

we must avoid pursuing competitiveness in ways that increase costs for those already affected by distance and scale.

We must avoid replacing one dependency with another.

That is why Europe must remain open and outward looking.

For Malta, openness means reliable routes,

trusted partners and fair access to the goods and opportunities our people and our businesses need.

Resilience should widen opportunity, not close Europe off from the world. On migration.

A subject that is of course sensitive and relevant to us as Malta,

we agreed that Europe must remain vigilant, prepared.

And united in the face of ever changing pressures.

Recent events in Ceuta showed how quickly migration pressures can emerge and how migration can be instrumentalised against the Union and its external borders.

Europe must respond in a way that is firm,

fair, coordinated and consistent with its values.

The priority now is implementation, effective border management, practical solidarity,

credible returns, action against organised criminal smuggling networks,

and stronger.

Partnerships with countries of origin and also countries of transit.

A suitable European approach must combine and integrate responsibility,

solidarity, partnership, and respect for human dignity. We also discussed.

The difficult situation in the Middle East,

where the scale of human suffering and risk of further regional escalation demand urgent and sustained attention.

Malta's immediate priority is the protection of civilians and the safe,

sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance.

International humanitarian law must be upheld consistently and without exception.

This is not in contradiction with Israel's legitimate right to defend itself, but that right must be exercised in accordance with international law,

including humanitarian law, and with the principles of necessity and proportionality.

Our position remains firmly anchored in the two-state solution.

As the only viable basis for a just and lasting peace.

The European Union must continue working with partners to support the escalation,

keep the prospect of peace alive and promote regional stability. Malta.

Will continue to support credible and effective European action, consistent with international and European law,

including in relation to goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements.

We remain equally concerned with the developments in the West Bank.

Including settlement expansion, settler violence, and other actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.

On Iran,

the immediate priority must be the escalation and the prevention of any wider regional confrontation.

Freedom of navigation must be safeguarded, including through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

While diplomacy,

respect for non proliferation commitments and regional stability remain essential.

We also discussed Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine. Malta's position has been and remains clear. Respect for territorial sovereignty.

And integrity and international law which all must be upheld.

Our solidarity lies with the Ukrainian people, and our objective remains a comprehensive,

just, and lasting peace based on the United Nations Charter.

The European Union must continue to support Ukraine's resilience and the protection of civilians,

while keeping diplomatic efforts focused on a peace that is just,

sustainable and does not reward aggression.

For Malta, this is not only a security question,

it is about defending the principles that protect every state,

regardless of size.

Finally, Malta continues to support enlargement as an investment in the peace,

prosperity and stability of our Union,

for our children and for the generations yet to come. This must remain a credible, merit-based process.

Countries that do the necessary work and reforms.

And meet the agreed criteria should see real progress towards membership.

Malta's own experience shows that accession is indeed demanding,

but can anchor reform and create new opportunities when the right conditions are met.

Enlargement must also be prepared properly so that new members join as full.

And equal partners,

and the Union remains strong and able to deliver for Olof its citizens.

Finally, Today's discussions underlined why thoughtful, inclusive and steady European leadership matters,

especially when very difficult and ambitious choices and decisions lie ahead.

I thank President Costa for steering very difficult decisions with balance,

realism and respect. For the different national perspectives.

Malta will continue to fully support European leadership that is steady in its approach, clear in its direction,

practical in action,

and focused and delivering for every Member State and for Olof our citizens. Thank you once again, dear António.

Prime Minister, dear Robert, first of all,

thank you very much for your kind words and for having me here in Malta.

It is a true pleasure to meet you in your beautiful capital, and it's very important for me to engage directly with all European leaders regularly,

including their own country, and to listen and to understand all national perspectives.

This will help the European Council to achieve unity.

Because unity cannot be taken for granted, we build it every day at every meeting. We will need it again.

For a decision that will define what Europe is able to do between 2028 and 2034 on our next long term budget.

We are now operating in the fundamentally different geopolitical environment from the one we faced when we last negotiated the budget in 2020.

This new reality calls for a new approach to our budget with a new structure and a new way of allocating our resources.

We must be able to fund our new strategic priorities,

competitiveness, defence, security, and strategic resilience.

At the same time,

the next budget should ensure funding for our cohesion and agriculture policies.

They pull our regions upwards and support growth and jobs locally.

In a nutshell, they have a direct impact on the prosperity of our citizens.

Reaching agreement by the end of the year is key.

Because we need to ensure that funding keeps flowing without interruption.

For our farmers, our fishermen, for our students, researchers,

for our businesses, so our timeline is clear.

Agree in 2026, legislate and prepare in 2027. Deliver in 2028.

The size of the budget is of course a critical question.

Like national budgets,

the European Union budget must deliver on its priorities within the limits of finite resources. Most of it. Is financed through member states' national contribution.

Contributions which we need to keep within reasonable limits.

Therefore, we need new European revenues, the so-called new own resources,

in order to reduce the pressure on national budgets.

This will be a key component of an overall agreement.

Beyond the next long term budget,

we touch upon the main topics of our upcoming European Council meeting as the Prime Minister developed.

We discussed developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Middle East which have implications for Europe's peace and stability as a whole.

They affect migration flows and have a direct impact on our energy security.

We need to remain engaged in the region, and I'm grateful for your active role in this regard, dear Robert.

The European Union will continue to work,

including with regional and global partners on the path towards a long lasting peace based on the two-state solution for Palestine.

The geopolitical developments in recent years have shown us one thing clearly Europe needs to accelerate its path towards a greater strategic autonomy,

and we are on the right track.

The most important condition for greater European autonomy is our own unity.

And that was the main purpose of today's meeting with the Prime Minister Robert Abela.

And of the talks I will continue to have with all the European leaders in the next weeks to foster unity.

Dear Robert, I look forward to our work together at the next European Council.

Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you.