Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was long seen as the key vote in the campaign by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to rally support for the trade deal with the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Von der Leyen could now potentially sign the deal next week during a meeting in Paraguay. European Parliament will vote on it before it enters into force.

Italy confirmed its support for the deal on Friday, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani hailing it as “good news for Italy.”

“This agreement is destined to boost our exports, with the goal of reaching 700 billion euros in exports,” Tajani wrote in a post on X. He acknowledged the deal required a long negotiation, but added that Italy had secured protections for its farmers, “especially regarding production standards.”

Meloni said at a press conference on Friday she never had “any ideological objections” to the Mercosur agreement.

“We have always said we will be in favor of it when there are sufficient guarantees for our farmers,” she said. “The agreement’s potential is good, but not at the expense of the excellence of our products.”

Deal to create huge free trade zone

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement Friday that the agreement “is a milestone in European trade policy and an important signal of our strategic sovereignty and ability to act.”

He stressed that “with this agreement, we are strengthening our economy and trade relations with our partners in South America — which is good for Germany and for Europe.”

The deal would create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, covering some 780 million people from Uruguay to Romania and a quarter of the globe’s gross domestic product.

It also gives Brussels a diplomatic win at a time of economic upheaval, providing a stark counterpoint to the gunboat diplomacy of Washington and the coercive export controls of Beijing.

“Given Trump’s policies of isolating the U.S. from the rest of the world, it is an imperative for the EU to lead trade integration policies at the global level and to look for partners elsewhere,” said Antonio Fatas, a macroeconomist at the French business school INSEAD.

Countering Trump’s tariff threats

In the wake of Trumps’ tariff wars, Brussels has sought to curtail its dependency on the U.S. market with trade deals forged across the world. The EU has struck deals with Japan and Indonesia, and are working on one with India.

A delay in December to the signing of the deal had infuriated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and led experts to worry a last-minute stumble would wreck the EU’s credibility.

“For Europeans, the finalization of free-trade agreements with new partners stands among the best responses to US tariffs, growing protectionism and trade tensions with China,” said Agathe Demarais, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She said the current EU reliance on China for some critical raw materials could be broken by tapping into Mercosur’s deposits.

Opposition to the deal was led by France and Poland, with riled-up farmers flooding streets and blocking roads with tractors from Brussels to Athens. Austria, Hungary and Ireland also voted against it.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Thursday in Shanghai during a state visit to China that “we don’t have confidence that (Irish farmers) wouldn’t be undercut by that,” according to Irish public broadcaster RTE.

Both Martin and French President Emmanuel Macron said that internal negotiations sparked by the political furor surrounding the deal had led to reforms that better protect European farmers. But they acknowledged such reforms were not enough to overcome domestic political pressure.

Posting on X on Thursday, Macron said three of France’s key demands were now being met: New safeguards to an “emergency brake” of imports if they are found to undercut EU prices by 5% or more; the mirroring of EU food safety regulations in the Mercosur bloc; and an increase of inspections of agrifood imports at EU ports and beyond.

Still, Macron said the potential economic gains of the Mercosur deal are limited and do not justify the risks it poses to EU agriculture. His office stated that the deal would only add 77 billion euros ($89.7 billion) by 2040 — half a percent of the EU’s GDP.

Green members of European Parliament had vowed to take the Commission to court over the deal. They said the agreement would accelerate deforestation in the Amazon and weaken the EU’s climate targets.

Frances Verkamp, trade campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, described the deal as “toxic.” She said Brussels is “playing a game of imperial dominance in global trade with China and the US that wins nothing for workers or consumers — and even less for nature and climate.”

The post Italy gives key support to EU trade deal with South American nations first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“It is up to all of us to do more to de-escalate, to promote constructive dialogue, to prioritise diplomacy, and to re-invigorate the Helsinki Spirit. Let’s choose cooperation over confrontation, collaboration on shared initiative instead of competition.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to dialogue and international cooperation when he was addressing the 32^nd Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which reconvened in Vienna a year after the landmark meeting in Malta, in December 2024. This year’s Ministerial Council marked the 50^th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, the founding principles endorsed by the organisation’s participating states, in Helsinki.

As part of the OSCE Troika, the Deputy Prime Minister also chaired the Second Plenary Session of the Ministerial Council, on Thursday afternoon.

In his address, Dr Borg emphasised the participating states’ shared commitment to these principles – respecting sovereignty, upholding fundamental rights, resolving disputes peacefully, and cooperating to promote security and stability. “We have a shared responsibility, and a duty, to translate these principles into practice,” he stated.

Referring to the Helsinki+50 discussions on the future of the OSCE, launched by the 2025 Finnish Chairpersonship, the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed that while improvements are needed, “no amount of reforms will make the OSCE work more efficiently if we lack the political will to make it work. The success of the OSCE depends upon us, nobody else, and nothing else.”

Last week’s Ministerial Council marks the end of Malta’s term on the OSCE Troika, comprising the current Chair-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, the incoming 2026 Chair, the Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, and Deputy Prime Minister Borg, as the 2025 OSCE Chairperson. Following Malta’s last Troika meeting during this week’s Ministerial Council, Dr Borg pledged Malta’s continued support to the Swiss Presidency in 2026, and to other future Chairs.

In Vienna, the Maltese delegation held bilateral talks with other states participating in the same meeting. Dr Borg also met with Ambassador Jan Braathu, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, to commend him for his efforts to advance media freedom and the protection of journalists, since his appointment last year, at the 2024 Ministerial Council in Malta.

On the eve of the Ministerial Council, Malta also joined other participating states in an informal meeting focusing on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Borg said that while engaging in the ongoing peace talks, the international community must not set aside plans for the day after, including reconstruction, stability and peace of mind for the people of Ukraine.

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This MED5 meeting came at a pivotal moment – just weeks after the European Commission published its first annual report on asylum and migration, identifying Member States under migratory pressure. Minister Byron Camilleri, during a press statement noted that the fact that Malta is not on that list speaks volumes. “It is a clear and undeniable testament to the progress Malta has achieved and the effectiveness of this Government’s strategy in managing irregular migration by focusing on prevention and returns of irregular migrants who do not qualify for asylum. Over the past five years, we have not hesitated to make tough – but necessary – decisions, and the results are undeniable:

• Returns: Up to an average of 75% compared to irregular arrivals
• Arrivals: Reduced by 93% in the last 5 years, thanks to effective return policies for those not qualifying for protection.”

At the MED5 meeting, Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the full and successful implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, describing it as a pivotal opportunity to build a coherent, fair and resilient migration framework. The MED5 stressed that solidarity must move beyond words and deliver real, tangible results for countries under pressure.

The Minister highlighted that the external dimension cannot be overlooked. Stronger efforts on prevention and returns are essential pillars of a credible and effective migration policy. He also called for comprehensive, strategic partnerships with key third countries, built on mutual trust and support to transit countries like Libya, which face enormous challenges in securing borders and hosting large numbers of migrants who risk their lives on dangerous journeys.

Concluding the meeting, the Minister stated, “Our work is not finished. But today, MED5 stands stronger than ever – leading discussions, shaping solutions and defending the principles of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility across the European Union.”

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The OPM said that with regard to the European Union’s support for Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Abela spoke of the continued solidarity with the Ukrainian people while also noting that every effort towards a peace treaty must be supported, wherever it may come from. The OPM continued that in this regard, EU leaders continued to discuss the concept of a Reparations Loan, where it stated Prime Minister Abela spoke of the need to further study the impact on each member state, and that the proposal must be in line with international and EU law. He also commented that Malta’s Constitutional neutrality must be respected.

With regard to discussions on European defence and security, the OPM said that Abela spoke about the importance of giving Malta the necessary freedom to operate and contribute within the limits of the Constitution. It added that he also spoke of how security goes beyond traditional elements of defence, and that areas such as maritime security, crisis preparedness, and protecting critical infrastructure across the Mediterranean and the areas around Southern Europe remain a priority for Malta.

The OPM stated that the Prime Minister’s main message was that it must be ensured that the EU’s goals are achieved without placing disproportionate burdens on its families and businesses while maintaining its high level of ambition.

When discussing EU efforts to strengthen global competitiveness, the OPM said that Abela spoke of the importance of making fair decisions which take into account the realities of each member state, particularly those of island states such as Malta. He said that such realities must be reflected in the legislation that will lead the EU to achieve its climate targets for 2040 and 2050.

On the topic of the Middle East, the OPM said that Abela spoke about the importance of mobilising resources and humanitarian aid, particularly in Gaza. He said that a strong collective effort driven by empathy and guided by the principle of a two-state solution is needed, commenting that only through that way would the region be able to ensure dignity in Palestine and security in Israel.

The OPM said that Abela also spoke about the need to continue to strengthen fiscal sustainability in the design of economic policy for the future, adding that the EU’s policy must be one of flexibility and respect for national competencies while also ensuring the financial stability of the EU and member states.

Additionally, the OPM said that the Prime Minister participated in a coordination meeting on immigration with twelve other countries ahead of the European Council meeting. During this coordination meeting, the OPM said that Abela spoke of Malta’s continued support for a collective and strategic effort in the face of the challenge of immigration, particularly focusing on solidarity, responsibility, and cooperation with third countries, including those of origin and transit. It continued that Abela said that the process of adopting laws, particularly with regard to the return of those who do not deserve asylum, should be expedited.

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The 27-nation EU is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and it’s unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse the sanctions and trade measures.

Meanwhile, emergency personnel in Qatar dug through the rubble of an Israeli attack on Hamas’ political leaders who had gathered in the energy-rich Mideast nation to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The strike Tuesday on the territory of a U.S. ally drew widespread condemnation from several countries in the Mideast and beyond.

Hamas said in a statement that all of its leaders survived the attack but that five lower-ranked members were killed. Qatar said a member of its Internal Security Force died and others were wounded in the attack.

UAE leader visits Qatar

The leader of the United Arab Emirates traveled Wednesday to Qatar, a day after Israel launched an attack there on Hamas’ political leadership.

The visit by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, likely underscores the growing unease the UAE feels with Israel.

In recent days, the Emirates warned Israel that any effort to annex the West Bank, part of land that Palestinians want for their future state, would be a “red line” that would threaten the Abraham Accords, the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal it struck with Israel.

Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, welcomed Sheikh Mohammed.

The two leaders had been on opposite sides of a political dispute for years during the first Trump administration that saw the UAE and three other nations boycott Doha.

Saar criticizes EU leader

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in a social media post, said Von der Leyen had succumbed to pressures that undermine Israel-Europe relations.

He said her actions will embolden Hamas.

Analyst says Qatar as few options after Israeli attack

Qatar has limited means by which to respond to the attack, analysts say, which likely entered into the Israeli calculus on launching the assault.

“Qatari officials have condemned the attack but its options are constrained by the absence of formal ties with Israel,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst at the risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

“And more importantly, after investing considerable time and diplomatic effort into strengthening ties with Washington, Qatar’s political leadership is acutely aware of the potential repercussions of any actions that could jeopardize relations with Washington.”

Global Sumud Flotilla boat hit by drone, group says

An international activist flotilla seeking to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza says it was attacked for the second night in a row on Wednesday.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement that one of its boats, the British-flagged “Alma,” was attacked by a drone as it was docked in Tunisian waters and pointed fingers at Israel. No one was harmed.

The group shared security camera footage showing people on board shouting “fire” and pointing to the sky when flames fell from the sky, impacting the deck and causing a ball of fire.

The attack appeared similar to the one sustained the night before by the Portuguese-flagged “Family” vessel.

Tunisian authorities on Tuesday had denied claims that the first attack had been caused by drones, adding they were investigating. There was no immediate reaction to the second attack.

The flotilla, consisting of around 20 boats, departed Barcelona with a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid on September 1. It had planned a stop in Tunis before sailing to Gaza again.

“These repeat attacks come during intensified Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza, and are an orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission,” the group said in its statement. “The Global Sumud Flotilla continues undeterred.”

There was no immediate reaction from Israeli authorities.

Von der Leyen wants to put support for Israel on hold

Von der Leyen said she plans to freeze support to Israel given by the European Union’s executive branch, which would not require the approval of the 27 member countries.

It was not immediately clear how much financial support the executive branch, known as the European Commission, provides to Israel and what it is used for.

“We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas, without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem,” the Holocaust memorial, von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.

The commission also gives support to the Palestinian Authority.

Israel’s attack on Doha threatens negotiations

The Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar threatens to upend negotiations over a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and Israel’s efforts to reach out to Gulf Arab states.

That’s according to an analysis Wednesday by the New York-based think tank The Soufan Center.

“The attack has profound strategic implications because by striking a Gulf Cooperation Council state, Israel risks undermining the Abraham Accords and unraveling the fragile normalization framework with Arab partners,” the center said, referring to the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

“Israel’s strike on Qatar raises the uncomfortable question: if a state like Qatar, with its carefully cultivated neutrality and commitment to peacemaking, is punished for its role, who will dare step into the vacuum of mediation in the future?” the center asked.

Von der Leyen calls for a stop to the war in Gaza

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the events in Gaza and the suffering of children and families “has shaken the conscience of the world.”

“Man made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop,” she added, to applause in the European Parliament at its meeting in Strasbourg, France.

Von der Leyen added that the commission “will set up a Palestine donor group next month,” part of which will focus on Gaza’s future reconstruction.

Her words Wednesday represented a sharp turnaround in her thinking, as she’d previously been a strong supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Qatari leader speaks with Trump

Qatar’s local media hewed tightly to government statements issued after Tuesday’s attack, which killed at least six people in a neighborhood in Doha home to foreign embassies and schools. Qatar is ruled by a hereditary emir and tightly restricts speech like other Gulf Arab nations.

Al Jazeera, the outspoken satellite news network funded by Qatar’s government, described the attack as a “brutal aggression” in its headlines.

Al Jazeera has been banned by the Israeli government from operating in Israel or the West Bank amid the Israel-Hamas war, though its journalists still broadcast from the Gaza Strip.

The state-run Qatar News Agency noted its ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a series of calls with world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.

Sheikh Tamim in the call condemned the attack “and held the Israeli entity responsible for its repercussions, in light of the policy of aggression they adopt that threatens the region’s stability and obstructs efforts to de-escalate and reach sustainable diplomatic solutions,” a readout of the call said.

Qatar Airways, a major East-West airline that operates out of the country’s massive Hamad International Airport, sought to assure passengers their flights were safe and would not be interrupted.

Israeli attack not detected by Qatar’s air defenses

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, said Tuesday night that “the Israeli enemy used weapons that were not detected by radar.” He did not elaborate.

However, that suggests Israeli fighter jets likely launched so-called “stand-off” missiles at a distance to strike the site without actually entering Qatari airspace — possible over the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. has said it warned Qatar before the strike. Qatar disputes that, with Sheikh Mohammed saying that “the Americans sent a message 10 minutes after the attacks took place saying they were informed that there was going to be a missile attack on the state of Qatar.”

Qatar maintains a major arsenal of air defense systems, including both American-made Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD batteries.

Qatar is also home to the U.S. military’s forward headquarters for its Mideast-based Central Command.

That base, at the sprawling Al Udeid Air Base, also has American-run radars and defense systems and recently hosted President Donald Trump on his tour of the region in May.

Japan condemns the attack

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Wednesday that his country “strongly condemns” Israel’s attack on Qatar as a move that interferes with the ongoing diplomatic efforts toward achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and to the release of hostages and further destabilizes the region.

“While we express our solidarity with Qatar, we strongly demand Israel immediately return to negotiation toward achieving a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” Hayashi said.

He also called on all related parties to refrain from actions that would destabilize the region, including terrorist attacks, and to de-escalate the situation.

The post EU leader calls for sanctions against Israel over the war in Gaza first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Dr Borg and the Maltese delegation met with Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

The trade agreement recently reached between the European Union and the United States topped the agenda of these meetings. In their discussions, Malta and the United States noted that this agreement opens new opportunities for EU member states and the United States, particularly in the strengthening of energy security.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg and Secretaries Burgum and Wright discussed the energy security strategies of the two countries. They also talked about the crucial role of Malta in the global maritime industry, as the Secretaries expressed their appreciation for the effective cooperation between the two countries in the field of maritime security, especially through the new Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring (GCMSM), which launched its operations from its base in Malta this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg also updated the Secretaries on the ongoing efforts regarding air connectivity between Malta and the United States. In this regard, he explained that a potential agreement with an American airline would be crucial in further strengthening relations between the two countries, with promising prospects for increased trade across various sectors.

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On Monday, Dr Borg participated in the May meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, focusing on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, the situation in Gaza, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and ongoing developments in Libya and other neighbouring countries. 

“While Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon, the blatant use of force resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians from both sides is never justifiable,” Dr Borg said, emphasising the need for diplomatic solutions, guided by the belief that violence cannot bring about security.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg also referred to the recent devastating scenes at aid distribution points in Gaza. “I am compelled to stress once again that the use of starvation as a weapon of war and forced mass displacement are serious violations of international law, including International Humanitarian Law,” he stated, as he appealed for systems that can ensure that civilians are able to access aid safely.  

Malta continues to call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and adequate flows of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

On Libya, Dr Borg emphasised the importance of remaining focused on maintaining stability and maximising the support of the European Union. “Genuine political dialogue amongst stakeholders on the ground is essential. The process must remain Libyan-led and Libyan-owned. We continue to support proactive engagement by the international community in support of UN-led efforts — avoiding a political vacuum that could be exploited by other malign actors is essential,” he explained.

Malta also continued to express support efforts towards a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, to reduce civilian suffering and to allow space for meaningful talks toward a genuine peace. The 2025 Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe is working to facilitate the establishment of the Special Tribunal on Crimes of Aggression, to ensure justice and accountability for the people of Ukraine.

Referring to ongoing talks about new sanctions against Russia, Dr Borg underscored the need to remain vigilant to the potential implications on energy markets, and issues related to maritime shipping, including flag-hopping and shadow fleet threats. He warned that to avoid the risk of oil price shocks, it would be prudent to refrain from unilateral EU decisions on the Oil Price Cap without full coordination with other international partners, including the G7 countries.

He also joined calls for the opening of the first EU accession negotiating cluster for Ukraine, affirming that “advancing Ukraine’s accession process, based on merit, is not only in Ukraine’s interest but in the interest of Europe’s long-term security, stability, and prosperity.”

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The announcement was made by Hon. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, during a high-level seminar in Malta entitled “Towards the Third UN Ocean Conference: Policy, Science & Blue Economy – A Common Ambition for Malta and France.”

The event was organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Embassy of France in Malta and the Maltese French Chamber of Commerce (MFCC) and brought together key figures in policy, science, and the blue economy from both countries to explore pressing marine challenges and shared solutions.

In his keynote address, Minister Borg underlined the need for urgent ocean action.

“It is time to change course. The ocean is a common good for humanity and essential to Europe’s sustainable, secure, and competitive future. There will be no green shift, no Paris goals achieved, and no zero-emission society if we fail to focus on knowledge and science. We must be the generation that chose to act.”

MFCC President Joseph Bugeja highlighted the Mediterranean’s mounting environmental pressures and the need for greater science-policy cooperation.

“Surface temperatures have risen 1.4°C since 1982—almost twice the global ocean average—causing shifts in fish stocks and coral die-offs. In 2024, at least 730 marine litter items per km² were recorded off our coasts, the highest density ever logged by EMODnet. Yet the blue economy already generates €590 billion and supports 4.8 million jobs across the EU, with France and Malta contributing a combined €46 billion. These numbers remind us that prosperity and vulnerability travel the same currents.”

Mr Bugeja also pointed to recent advancements in sustainability and collaboration. Malta’s €25 million Blue Med Sustainable Ports programme began retrofitting shore-power systems to cut berth emissions by 9,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Meanwhile, France adopted its Offshore Wind Roadmap 2035, targeting 18 GW—enough to supply all Mediterranean coastal cities in both nations. A new mutual recognition agreement on green-shipping certification will also streamline compliance for over 1,200 vessels flagged in Valletta or Marseilles.

French Ambassador to Malta H.E. Sandrine Lelong-Motta spoke of the shared maritime heritage between France and Malta and the ocean’s dual role as a source of livelihood and geopolitical concern.

“From tourism to shipping, from fisheries to maritime innovation, the sea offers extraordinary opportunities. Yet we are all acutely aware of its fragility. It is important that we balance exploration with precaution and build a sustainable blue economy driven by innovation, resilience, and the ecological transition.”

The High Seas Treaty addresses a long-standing gap in ocean protection by providing a legal framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It introduces mechanisms to establish marine protected areas, conduct environmental impact assessments on the high seas, and promote equitable sharing of marine genetic resources – seen as vital to achieving the global target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

The treaty will enter into force once 60 countries ratify it—a milestone expected ahead of the Nice conference. To date, seven countries have ratified the treaty, with 89 having signed it.

France’s Ambassador for the Oceans, Oliver Poivre d’Arvor, issued a stark warning about the Mediterranean’s rapidly changing climate: “Around 500 million tourists visit the Mediterranean every year. But the region is warming at double the rate of the rest of the world’s oceans. In 15 to 20 years, tourists will stop coming in summer due to extreme heat and shift their holidays to winter.”

He also expressed disappointment that the United States will not be ratifying the treaty, describing it as a missed opportunity for international cooperation.

In his closing remarks, Mr Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, recalled Malta’s historic role in shaping global ocean governance.

“In 1967, just three years after Independence, Malta proposed to the UN that ocean resources beyond national jurisdiction be recognised as the ‘common heritage of mankind.’ That bold initiative laid the groundwork for international ocean law.”

He urged renewed global commitment and said the 2025 Ocean Conference in Nice must become a platform to reinvent the blue economy, tackle illegal fishing, and adapt to rising sea levels.

“Malta is in an advanced stage of ratifying the treaty. This reaffirms our commitment to being an active player in ocean governance,” concluded Mr Cutajar.

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The European Commission imposed a 500 million euro ($571 million) fine on Apple for preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store.

The commission, which is the EU’s executive arm, also fined Meta Platforms 200 million euros because it forced Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them.

The punishments were smaller than the blockbuster multibillion-euro fines that the commission has previously slapped on Big Tech companies in antitrustcases.

Apple and Meta have to comply with the decisions within 60 days or risk unspecified “periodic penalty payments,” the commission said.

The decisions were expected to come in March, but officials apparently held off amid an escalating trans-Atlantic trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly complained about regulations from Brussels affecting American companies.

The penalties were issued under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, also known as the DMA. It’s a sweeping rulebook that amounts to a set of do’s and don’ts designed to give consumers and businesses more choice and prevent Big Tech “gatekeepers” from cornering digital markets.

The DMA seeks to ensure “that citizens have full control over when and how their data is used online, and businesses can freely communicate with their own customers,” Henna Virkkunen, the commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said in a statement.

“The decisions adopted today find that both Apple and Meta have taken away this free choice from their users and are required to change their behavior,” Virkkunen said.

Both companies indicated they would appeal.

Apple accused the commission of “unfairly targeting” the iPhone maker, and said it “continues to move the goal posts” despite the company’s efforts to comply with the rules.

Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan said in a statement that the “Commission is attempting to handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards.”

In the App Store case, the Commission had accused the iPhone maker of imposing unfair rules preventing app developers from freely steering consumers to other channels.

Among the DMA’s provisions are requirements to let developers inform customers of cheaper purchasing options and direct them to those offers.

The commission said it ordered Apple to remove technical and commercial restrictions that prevent developers from steering users to other channels, and to end “non-compliant” conduct.

Apple said it has “spent hundreds of thousands of engineering hours and made dozens of changes to comply with this law, none of which our users have asked for.”

“Despite countless meetings, the Commission continues to move the goal posts every step of the way,” the company said.

The EU’s Meta investigation centered on the company’s strategy to comply with strict European data privacy rules by giving users the option of paying for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.

Users could pay at least 10 euros ($11) a month to avoid being targeted by ads based on their personal data. The U.S. tech giant rolled out the option after the European Union’s top court ruled Meta must first get consent before showing ads to users, in a decision that threatened its business model of tailoring ads based on individual users’ online interests and digital activity.

Regulators took issue with Meta’s model, saying it doesn’t allow users to exercise their right to “freely consent” to allowing their personal data from its various services, which also including Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp, and Messenger, to be combined for personalized ads.

Meta rolled out a third option in November giving Facebook and Instagram users in Europe the option to see fewer personalized ads if they don’t want to pay for an ad-free subscription. The commission said it’s “currently assessing” this option and continues to hold talks with Meta, and has asked the company to provide evidence of the new option’s impact.

“This isn’t just about a fine; the Commission forcing us to change our business model effectively imposes a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service,” Kaplan said. “And by unfairly restricting personalized advertising the European Commission is also hurting European businesses and economies.”

The post The European Union fines Apple 500 million euros and Meta 200 million in separate digital cases first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri attended a MED5 meeting in Naples, together with the ministers responsible for Home Affairs and Migration of Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain. The discussions focused on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the external dimension of migration and returns. The meeting was also attended by EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and the executive director of Frontex Hans Leijtens.

Minister Camilleri said that “Malta has made major improvements in recent years to address the challenges linked to irregular migration, including by increasing the resources of the national competent authorities, investing on returns and reaching out to third countries”.

“This approach has proven very effective, in fact last year Malta registered a 93% decrease in the number of irregular arrivals compared to five years ago, while the rate of returns has been considerably increasing year on year.”

The minister said that there is a direct relationship between the number of irregular arrivals and the rate of returns. The minister noted how these efforts will continue to be strengthened through the implementation of the Pact. However, the minister also noted how with the Pact the MED5 countries are taking up significant responsibilities and therefore there’s a need to ensure that the challenges Mediterranean frontline countries face are well taken into account.

The ministers highlighted how whereas Malta is fully committed towards the Pact’s full implementation, one needs to be realistic and acknowledge the fact that while the Pact has several positive elements, it alone will not address the challenges we face with irregular migration. In this regard, Minister Camilleri noted how the external dimension of migration is key to address the challenges we are facing today, which necessitate increased efforts in the areas of prevention and return.

The minister highlighted the importance of innovative solutions as the old ways of doing things have unfortunately failed to yield the necessary results. In particular, the minister highlighted the establishment of return hubs in third countries for failed asylum seekers, noting how this would be a game-changer, effectively removing incentives for economic migrants to come to the European Union irregularly.

Minister Camilleri welcomed the Proposal for a Return Regulation launched by the Commission in March, which among other elements expands the definition of the country of return to clearly allow for the establishment of return hubs in third countries, the introduction of obligations for returnees to cooperate with the authorities and clear consequences in case of non-cooperation. The minister also emphasised the need to increase cooperation with third countries by building strategic partnerships based on mutual trust.

The ministers of Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain signed a Joint Statement in anticipation of the Justice and Home Affairs Meeting to be held on 12-13 June.

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