“I urge you to make your voice heard in shaping the policies that define your future — because democracy only thrives when young people actively participate in building the societies they want to live in.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg emphasised the importance of youth engagement, when he was delivering a lecture on Malta’s Presidency of the Council of Europe, at the University of Malta, on Wednesday morning.
Dr Borg’s address, in his capacity as the 2025 President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, formed part of European Voices: Conversations on Campus, an event co-hosted by the University and the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe. It also featured lectures by the Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos.
The Maltese Deputy Prime Minister, who himself entered politics at the age of 19, when he was elected mayor of his hometown Dingli, noted that youth empowerment is not simply one of the priorities of Malta’s Council of Europe presidency, but a long-standing national commitment to giving young people a real seat at the table, as equal partners in building a more democratic future.
“From the youngest head of delegation in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, to the youngest EU Commissioner, and the youngest Ambassador leading the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, Malta continues to prove that young people are able to lead and be taken seriously,” he stated.
Dr Borg welcomed the Council of Europe member states’ ministers responsible for youth, who are arriving in Valletta for this week’s Specialised Conference on Youth Participation in Democratic Life, another high-level event hosted under the Maltese Presidency.
Dr Borg also talked about Malta’s contributions to multilateralism and international collaboration. “On multiple occasions, Malta has positioned itself as a bridge between regions, proving that small countries can play a leading role in fostering peace. We were chosen to lead the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe last year for this very reason, and last week we had Malta’s first-ever Special Representative of the United Nation’s Secretary General appointed to lead the sensitive subject of protecting Children in Armed Conflict,” he explained.
Throughout its Council of Europe Presidency and beyond, Malta will spare no effort to ensure inclusive societies where every individual feels a true sense of belonging. “We aspire for communities grounded in respect for human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law. Only then can our societies truly feel like home for all,” the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.
