Bastille Day 2025: A solid relationship between Malta and France

Today, the French people celebrate July 14th, our National Day commemorating the French Revolution and the unity it created through the founding of a new and enduring constitutional and democratic system based on the values of liberty, equality and fraternity.

In a world threatened by the return of violence, illiberalism and authoritarianism, the French people – whatever their political opinions – continue to uphold their Republican regime and the rule of law that is attached to it.

This year, France has been at the forefront of multilateralism. We organised three humanitarian conferences to fund aid to war-torn Gaza, Sudan and Lebanon and a key political conference to support the building of a free, inclusive, united, sovereign, stable and peaceful Syria.

The Artificial Intelligence Summit was also a success in putting Europe back on the map for foreign investments in this strategic sector. Finally, the Third United Nations Ocean Conference brought the world together around the urgent need to protect marine biodiversity.

The French authorities were pleased to host Prime Minister Robert Abela and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ian Borg in France on several occasions. Our bilateral relationship is marked by continued dialogue, cooperation and common views. At the UN Security Council, we supported Malta’s Resolution 2713 in November 2023, which, nine days later, led to the first ceasefire and hostage deal in the Gaza Strip.

Malta’s leadership in chairing the OSCE and the Council of Europe reflects our shared commitment to European unity in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace that upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty.

France also recently welcomed the signing of a bilateral agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine, establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

France also holds a strong presence across various sectors of the Maltese economy, with leading companies such as CMA-CGM at the Freeport, STMicroelectronics as a key chip manufacturer and employer on the island and FDJ United in the e-gaming industry.

French residents contribute to the growth of these dynamic sectors and French tourists boost the local leisure and hospitality industry. The Maltese French Chamber of Commerce is also an asset in promoting trade and business relations between our two countries.

I strongly encourage Maltese students to study in France- Sandrine Lelong-Motta

While many French students come to Malta on Erasmus programmes, I strongly encourage Maltese students to study in France, where they will find courses in English, very pleasant student cities to live in and beautiful regions to discover. I am also pleased to announce the opening of the first French school in Malta, the Lycée Français Bilingue International de Malte in September 2025, in Pembroke, for pre-primary and primary levels.

The secondary cycle will gradually open starting in 2026. This is a unique opportunity for Maltese pupils to become trilingual in French, Maltese, and English from an early age. Finally, I am very grateful to all the French teachers in Malta, in Maltese schools and at the Alliance Française, who keep the French language alive in the island.

This year was also a year of projects and meetings: the restoration of the French emblem representing the female figure of the French Republic, owned by the Mdina Cathedral Museum and dating from the French period, was completed.

We welcomed the Maltese Olympic and Paralympic teams at the French Residence to celebrate the end of the Paris Olympic Games as well as the archbishop and architects to present the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Louvre cooperated with the National Museum of Archaeology to reunite the Cippi of Malta and we organised a number of conferences and film screenings.

I wish the French people living in Malta a wonderful Bastille Day and I cherish the friendship between our two nations every day.

Sandrine Lelong-Motta is the Ambassador of France.