Youth and peace are key reforms in Malta's presidency at the Council of Europe

Updated Thursday 6.30am with Ian Borg comments 

Youth, peace and people-centered reforms are at the heart of Malta's presidency at the Council of Europe, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.

"Malta views young people not only as the future but as the leaders driving today's positive change," Abela said in his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg.

Malta formally took over the rotating six-month presidency of the Council of Europe last month, making this Malta's fourth presidency of the Council since it joined 60 years ago. The presidency will run until November. 

During his address, Abela touched upon several topics, including Malta's role as a bridge between the 46 member states of the Council and the country's effort to build peace, even beyond Europe.

"Global challenges require global efforts," Abela said.

"We cannot remain silent in the face of human tragedy in Gaza. The international community must come together to stop the bloodshed and ensure that international law is respected."

On the topic of youths, Abela highlighted significant initiatives Malta has taken to amplify the voice of young people, specifying the Youth Advisory Forum, which acts as a Youth Cabinet, lowering the voting age to 16, and the nomination of the youngest-ever European Commissioner, Glenn Micallef, entrusted with the youth portfolio.

Abela also announced how Malta will be hosting the Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth in October, an event which will bring together young people and policymakers to discuss a youth-driven democratic future.

He also outlined several reforms undertaken by his government, many of which received the support of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, Greco and Moneyval.

He cited reforms in the justice sector, including judicial appointments, the enhancement of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Permanent Commission Against Corruption, the change in how the President of the Republic is appointed, which now requiring a two-thirds parliamentary vote and restructuring of the Office of the Attorney General to boost its effectiveness.

Abela also referred to other reforms, such as a bill to protect journalists and the transposition of the EU's anti-SLAPP directive. He also highlighted the introduction of femicide into Malta’s criminal code and other reforms that have bolstered the empowerment of women, including in political life.

He concluded by reaffirming that Malta has always seen the Council of Europe as a natural home for the shared aspirations of humanity, peace, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

He emphasised that dialogue and multilateralism have always been pillars of Malta’s foreign policy, with the country continuing to serve as a consistent voice for both regional and global stability.

'Peace demands accountability'

Wednesday's council meeting also saw the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, a new body within the Council of Europe set up to prosecute senior Russian leaders in connection with the invasion of Ukraine. 

Announcing the move, the Council of Europe said in a statement that while the International Criminal Court (ICC) has the authority to investigate war crimes in Ukraine, "jurisdictional limitations" prevented it from examining the crime of aggression.

"The Special Tribunal will fill this gap", the council said. 

In an X post, Foreign Minister Ian Borg, who as president of the council's Committee of Ministers presided over the signing of the agreement alongside Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and council secretary general Alain Berset, stressed the "crime of aggression must never go unpunished".

"A just and lasting peace demands not only resolution - but accountability", said Borg.