Semira Abbas Shalan
Monday, 6 October 2025, 17:46
Last update: about 29 minutes ago
Parliament on Monday welcomed President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos for an address commemorating Malta’s 60th anniversary since its accession to the Council of Europe.
The sitting, also addressed by Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia, Prime Minister Robert Abela, and Opposition Leader Alex Borg, reflected on Malta’s enduring role within the Council and the values that continue to guide its presidency of the Committee of Ministers, which is due to end on 13 November.
Opening the special sitting, the Speaker said that Malta’s membership in the Council of Europe dates back six decades, and the country has consistently upheld the organisation’s mission to strengthen democracy, rule of law, and human rights across the continent.
He said Malta had long been “a credible bridge between East and West, North and South,” particularly through its stance on neutrality and diplomacy, which he described as “not the art of appearing strong, but the courage to speak the truth when it is not easy.”
Farrugia said that throughout its rotating presidencies, Malta had prioritised equality, social justice, inclusion, and solidarity, with the ongoing presidency focusing on social protection, the fight against discrimination and violence, and child safeguarding.
He recalled the various international activities held in Malta during its term, including youth roundtables, conferences on women’s rights and rainbow families, and discussions that “encouraged open dialogue about our shortcomings and the need to build mutual respect.”
“These initiatives remind us that peace and human dignity are not gifts, but responsibilities that we must renew every day,” the Speaker said.
“This is our mandate, and this is the legacy we must leave behind,” Farrugia said.
Addressing the Maltese Parliament for the first time, Rousopoulos said it was “a great honour” to speak before such a distinguished assembly, recalling that during his walk through Valletta, he was moved to see a bust of Winston Churchill, whom he deeply admired for his defence of Europe “from tyranny” and his vision for a European continent united around the rule of law and democracy.
Rousopoulos cited Churchill’s 1943 reflection that after the Second World War, Europe should never again turn against its own people.
“The Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights were created by personalities greater than history itself,” he said.
“We are small in comparison, but some today rise to seek votes through populism,” he said.
Marking 60 years since Malta joined the Council, he said anniversaries serve not just to celebrate, but to remind nations that “the strength of democracy does not depend on size or wealth, but on commitment to justice, freedom, and human dignity.”
Rousopoulos praised Malta for having, since independence, transformed its diversity into dialogue and demonstrated how even a small state could make a major contribution to European unity.
Speaking on contemporary challenges, Rousopoulos warned against populism, authoritarianism, misinformation, and the misuse of artificial intelligence, describing them as “new threats to democracy and truth.”
“I do not blame the knife for the crime. I blame the hand that chooses to use it as a weapon rather than a tool,” he said.
He emphasised that the Council of Europe had recently adopted a Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, a treaty which aims to ensure that the development and use of AI technologies align with fundamental human rights, democratic values and the rule of law, ensuring technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
“The Convention is not the problem, it is the safeguard. Leaving the Convention would mean leaving Europe itself,” he continued, as he spoke about what a pity it was that the United Kingdom was discussing leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, after it had left the European Union, after Churchill had advocated for a united Europe after WWII.
Rousopoulos also honoured journalists who lost their lives defending truth, adding that “the past two years have been devastating for journalism,” pointing to the many journalists who were killed in the past two years, more than the first and second world wars.
He urged parliamentarians to “ensure truth continues to speak,” saying that the Council’s institutions “save lives of 700 million Europeans” through their work.
“The future will belong to those faithful to their principles when it is hardest to do so. Let us keep Churchill’s hope alive, a Europe united not by fear, but by hope, in our Parliaments, in our Courts, and in our citizens,” Rousopoulos said.
Prime Minister Abela welcomed Mr Rousopoulos to Malta’s Parliament, expressing satisfaction that his visit coincided with Malta’s presidency of the Council’s Committee of Ministers and the country’s 60th year as a member.
He said Malta had always sought to “promote dialogue and defend the fundamental values of the Council of Europe,” showing that even a small state could make a valuable contribution “through resilience and firm conviction.”
Every time deficiencies were identified, Abela said that Malta worked to address them and ensure progress.
This approach was reflected in the current presidency’s focus on protecting children, combating sexual violence, and promoting equality and inclusion, Abela said.
He spoke of recent initiatives, including a political declaration on child safeguarding, in which children themselves were consulted to shape policy.
Abela said that Malta also hosted a Rainbow Families Conference and various meetings on the ethical use of AI and human trafficking prevention.
Abela identified three priorities of the presidency: empowering young people, combatting misinformation, and promoting equality.
He pointed to Malta’s National Youth Parliament, which engages participants from age 13, and the Cabinet of Youth, which he meets monthly.
“Youths in Malta can now even contest local elections from age 16, a sign that we trust them to be part of decision-making and to strengthen democracy,” he said.
On foreign policy, Abela spoke of Malta’s “unwavering support for Ukraine,” where Malta presided over the historic signing of a Cooperation Agreement for Special Tribunal on Crime of Aggression.
He said Malta was contributing financially to support Ukraine’s social resilience and continued to play a bridge-building role for peace amid the crises threatening democracy and human rights worldwide.
“The world is changing rapidly, but the Council of Europe remains vital for finding collective solutions. Reflecting on Malta’s long journey, one thing is clear, the Council’s values form part of who we are as a nation,” Abela said.
Opposition Leader Borg described the visit as both an honour and “a reminder of Malta’s strong bond with the Council of Europe.”
Marking the 60th anniversary of membership, he said that Malta had “walked hand in hand with other European states in a shared commitment to defend democracy, human rights, and our common heritage.”
Borg called the Council “a symbol of hope and an example of how shared values guide our path in difficult times.”
He spoke of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, and the rise of populism and extremism, saying that misinformation and fake news were “dangerous forces undermining trust in institutions and weakening democracy.”
“These challenges remind us why the Council of Europe remains essential. In the face of doubt, it reasserts the dignity of every human being,” Borg said.
Borg said that Malta had always believed in the “collective voice of Europe,” proving that “even the smallest state can make a significant contribution.”
“As the Opposition, I stress that the Council’s mission goes beyond political differences, it unites us as Maltese and as Europeans. It is a legacy we must preserve and pass on,” Borg said.
Borg said that Malta will continue being on the Council of Europe’s side to face the challenges of this new world.