Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg raised Malta’s concerns on the developing situation concerning the abandoned Arctic Metagaz LNG tanker and the growing presence of shadow fleet vessels in the Mediterranean, during Monday’s EU Foreign Affairs Council, in Brussels.
Encourages EU to seek ways to prevent shadow fleet vessels from reaching EU waters
The Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism encouraged the EU to consider ways to prevent shadow fleet vessels from reaching EU waters, possibly through stronger scrutiny at key transit points such as the Suez and the Strait of Gibraltar. This would help ensure that vessels entering the EU are in possession of the required insurance cover, especially for damages related to maritime pollution, and a valid flag status.
Dr Borg raised this matter with the support of the EU’s MED9 member states, who also expressed their concern on the situation. He updated fellow foreign ministers on Malta’s continuous surveillance of the Arctic Metagaz since the incident earlier this month, as well as ongoing preparations and negotiations, in collaboration with Italy and other stakeholders, to ensure mariners’ safety and environmental protection in the area.
The Arctic Metagaz issue also raises concerns on certain inconsistencies across different sanctions regimes, especially in the legal protection of salvage operators required to intervene on sanctioned vessels in cases of environmental risk and maritime safety. Dr Borg emphasised the need for the EU to explore measures to ensure that salvage operations by EU member states can proceed without the risk of exposing operators to third-party sanctions.
Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council also focused on European security, the escalating situation in the Middle East and the Gulf, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the Union’s engagement with its Mediterranean neighbours.
Dr Borg explained that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing escalation in the Middle East and the Gulf have strained Europe’s security order, reconfirming that European security is inseparable from that of its neighbours.
“We must act with urgency, reaffirming cohesion and solidarity among member states as the bedrock of our security. This also means hardening and securing our critical energy, maritime and undersea infrastructure and safeguarding our supply chains, whilst prioritising diversification and innovation to cut risky dependencies,” stated Dr Borg.
Malta welcomed the EU’s renewed engagement through the Pact for the Mediterranean, which can sustain dialogue and reduce escalation risks in this region. The success of this Pact, Dr Borg reminded, depends on delivering tangible results with high-impact initiatives.
The Deputy Prime Minister also warned that the persistent closure of the Strait of Hormuz is becoming increasingly disruptive. “Freedom of navigation must be safeguarded, and vessels and seafarers must be spared attack. EU coordination is essential,” he stated.
