Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, during a visit to Tallinn, on Friday.
The two ministers discussed ongoing bilateral initiatives, prospects for enhanced trade and commercial cooperation, regional security, and other EU matters of mutual concern.
The EU Action Plan on Cable Security was high on the meeting’s agenda. The ministers exchanged views on the strategic importance of submarine cables, on which both countries rely for several essential services. Dr Borg acknowledged the important work being done to strengthen the security of underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region, even after recent incidents continued to highlight the vulnerability of these critical systems.
Malta experienced similar incidents in past years as well. “We are working to ensure that the Mediterranean receives similar strategic attention within the framework of the Action Plan,” he stated, adding that Malta is exploring initiatives to improve maritime infrastructure resilience in the Mediterranean, with the potential for increased cooperation with the Baltic States and other maritime zones in coming years.
“Beyond military measures, the EU’s security strategy must also prioritise societal resilience, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, ensuring the resilience of vital services, such as healthcare, transport, water, telecommunications and public administration, even in times of crisis,” he affirmed.
In Tallinn, Dr Borg also held talks with the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta. He commended Estonia’s leadership in digital transformation, and its globally recognised e-government services across many sectors, including healthcare and justice. He also underscored the need for closer collaboration on cybersecurity, bilaterally, at EU level, and through other regional organisations.
The two Ministers talked about Malta’s Presidency of the Council of Europe and its commitment to justice and accountability for Ukraine. They acknowledged the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, last June, as a decisive step forward. Minister Pakosta expressed Estonia’s appreciation for the Maltese Presidency’s role in facilitating this historic development.
Following the bilateral meetings, Dr Borg visited the memorial to Estonia’s victims of communist occupation between 1940 and 1991, paying his respects to the thousands of victims commemorated on its wall of remembrance.
In Estonia, the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister also visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), a multinational and interdisciplinary cyber defence research and training hub, to learn more about its operations, particularly the ongoing cybersecurity collaboration with Maltese authorities.
Photo: MFT
