Malta, Greece, Italy and Cyprus Unite on the Future of EU Shipping

Malta has joined Cyprus, Greece and Italy in signing a joint declaration aimed at strengthening a common front on European shipping, as the four countries seek greater influence over decisions on competitiveness and decarbonisation in Brussels and at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The declaration came out of the ninth maritime meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Malta, held for the first time in an expanded “3+1” format with Italy. Malta was represented by Minister for Sustainable Mobility Chris Bonett.

Bonett stressed that the cooperation reflects shared interests rather than narrow self-protection, noting that for island states like Malta, maritime transport isn’t simply one option among many. “For some of us, we don’t have a choice, because the sea is practically our neighbourhood,” he said. He backed the shift towards decarbonisation but cautioned that it needs to be pursued without unfair cost to businesses and families, adding that policy “has to make sense” and “be pragmatic.”

The timing carries particular weight for Malta’s maritime sector: under the EU Emissions Trading System, shipping companies face a jump to 100% allowance surrender for 2026, with methane and nitrous oxide emissions now also included. Cavallari noted the four countries together account for 75% of the EU’s entire shipping fleet, giving their coordinated position considerable weight as negotiations continue at the IMO, with the next working group meeting scheduled for late November.

For Malta, the declaration reinforces the country’s role as an active voice in shaping the EU’s maritime and decarbonisation agenda, one of the sectors most directly tied to its economy and connectivity.