STRASBOURG, 24 June 2025 – As President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Ian Borg, held a series of high-level meetings and addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), underscoring the country’s active leadership during its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
In his address to the Summer Session of PACE, Hon. Borg reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to upholding the values of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, at a moment he described as “historic and consequential for Europe.”
“These values are not optional,” Borg affirmed. “They are the foundations of our societies, and we must defend them, especially in the most difficult moments.” Malta’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which began earlier this year, continues to reflect these moral stances.
Hon. Borg stated that the foundations of the European project are facing their most significant test in decades, noting the ongoing war in Ukraine to the backsliding on democratic values, disinformation, and populism. “These values of the Council of Europe are not optional,” he said. “They are the building blocks of our societies, and we must uphold them, especially when it is hardest to do so.”
Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister also reiterated the country’s resolute support for Ukraine, announcing Malta’s role in advancing the establishment of the Council of Europe’s Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
Turning to the Middle East, Hon. Borg noted the Council of Europe’s clear condemnation of the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 and expressed concern at the ongoing suffering in Gaza.
He also outlined the Maltese Presidency’s upcoming initiatives, including the first-ever Ministerial Conference on the Lanzarote Convention next week, the 10th Youth Ministerial Conference in October, and November’s 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Malta’s Presidency is also focusing on broader democratic renewal. Hon. Borg highlighted the Secretary General Alain Berset’s Roadmap towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe. The initiative is designed to make democracy more resilient, inclusive, and accessible. Malta is set to host a series of events in September and October as part of its contribution to this effort.
In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister welcomed recent decisions taken under Malta’s leadership, including the adoption of the new Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law and the launch of a long-term environmental strategy.
Hon. Borg called on all member states to rise to the challenges of the moment with unity, conviction and resolute cooperation. “Let us ensure that justice, freedom, and dignity prevail beyond every frontier,” he concluded. His address was followed by a question and answer session with Parliamentarians.
In the margins of the PACE session, Hon. Borg met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Alain Berset, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos. Discussions were focused on strengthening multilateral cooperation and upholding the Council of Europe’s founding principles.
Later that day, he chaired an extraordinary session of the Committee of Ministers that authorised the signing of the agreement to establish this Tribunal, signalling a firm commitment to justice and accountability.
