Policy paper

Bilateral Cooperation Framework between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Malta

Published 10 February 2023

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

The Republic of Malta and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as the ‘United Kingdom’ or the ‘UK’), together referred to as the ‘Participants’, hereby decide to deepen their cooperation in the five areas outlined in this Bilateral Cooperation Framework. The Participants declare their intention to:

1. Foreign policy, security and defence

The UN and multilateral fora

• respond robustly to contraventions of the UN Charter and address global challenges that undermine the values of the UN
• share knowledge and expertise through policy and technical discussions to support Malta in delivering shared objectives through its Membership of the UN Security Council from 2023-24 – to include, but not be limited to, work on Russia/Ukraine, Libya, gender equality, and women’s empowerment
• champion shared values at a range of multilateral fora including across the spectrum of UN activity

Commonwealth

• further Commonwealth values of democracy, rule of law and women and girls’ education
• use the Commonwealth as a multiplier to build on the momentum from COP26 and COP27 towards developing and supporting climate resilience, particularly among Small Island Developing States
• collaborate in the development of the Small States Centre of Excellence to strengthen its ability to deliver for smaller Commonwealth members
• generate momentum and win widespread buy-in for the Commonwealth Small States Trade Finance Facility, to ensure the Commonwealth is able to support the trade and investment goals of its smallest and most vulnerable members
• play a leading role in implementing reforms to the Commonwealth Secretariat, launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta in 2015, to ensure successful implementation before the next CHOGM in Samoa in 2024

Human rights

• champion human rights at the Human Rights Council and in other relevant fora
• strengthen the global response to Violence Against Women (VAW), including through the Prevent Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) initiative during Malta’s tenure on the UN Security Council Membership which has Women, Peace and Security as a priority. Work to promote 12 years of quality education for girls worldwide
• support equality of LGBT+ people bilaterally and in multilateral fora including the Commonwealth and the UN

Security

• maintain unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, through vocal leadership, including at UN institutions such as the Security Council, firm action, including through sanctions, and support for the Ukrainian government and people
• share expertise on Libya, including through official visits to discuss policy on stability, conflict resolution and reconstruction
• galvanise joint efforts to promote stability and reduce risks, including state threats, to the security and prosperity in the Mediterranean, Middle East and North African regions.
• resume the UK-Malta Migration Dialogue and share knowledge on migration, with a focus on tackling illegal migration and Organised Immigration Crime, and collaboration on return and readmission with priority third countries
• share knowledge and best practice between the Malta Police Force Passenger Information Unit and the UK National Border Targeting Centre to enhance their capabilities to process Passenger Name Record data and Advance Passenger Information to counter terrorism and serious crime and maintain border security

Counter-terrorism

• provide UK support to Malta in devising a new Counter-Terrorism Strategy
• cooperate on Counter-Terrorism Capability Building and strategy implementation
• share intelligence, analysis and develop joint understanding of security threats

Cyber

• exchange views on state threats and other hostile and malign actors, to develop a shared understanding of the security environment, including cyber as members of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (HybridCoE)
• work together and with likeminded partners in UN negotiations, as appropriate
• exchange information on Active Cyber Defence, Digital Service Security and supply chain risks
• support SMEs in enhancing their cyber security preparedness through education materials and programmes
• engage in CERT-to-CERT contact regarding active cyber incidents affecting the UK and Malta using FIRST.org contact points

Defence engagement

• continue to develop the effective working relationship between the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Ministry of the Republic of Malta responsible for Defence
• utilise planned ship visits to share expertise and build contacts between the UK Armed Forces and the Maltese Armed Forces
• continue to facilitate access to Malta for UK Armed forces Adventurous Training and Battlefield Studies
• establish an enduring Defence dialogue between the MOD and the Ministry of the Republic of Malta responsible for Defence
• continue to facilitate Maltese access to UK Tier 1 Defence training courses

2. Public administration and the rule of law

Public service reform

• share insight into the design and management of G-Cloud, GDS Service Standards and related services for public administration digitalisation, including through official-level visits
• deliver official-level workshops to share best practice on the digitalisation of health and other public services

Rule of law

• support Police Reform through the UK-Malta Policing Partnership and Malta’s desire to implement an intelligence-led Policing model that harnesses intelligence through data collection and analysis
• exploit greater collection of intelligence and understanding of threats through support for the development of a covert policing response that enables the Police to combat Serious and Organised Crime and Counter-Terrorism threats effectively
• support digitisation of police records through exchange with the UK’s Police Digital Service
• launch a regular dialogue with the Chair of the National Coordinating Committee on Combating Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism to maintain continued momentum on the recommendations and standards suggested by the Financial Action Task Force, and identify opportunities where the UK can support, including through a three-year capacity development programme focusing on illicit finance
• support the Centre for Financial Integrity being established by the University of Malta
• support Malta on its judicial reform efforts through training and sharing of best practice on priority areas for Malta, including the use of expert witnesses in court cases
• provide UK support for Maltese priority work on media freedom, including legislative reform as recommended by the Public Inquiry
• continue to enhance cooperation on intelligence sharing in all areas of Serious Organised Crime and Counter-Terrorism, and protection of our respective borders, working with key Maltese partners such as Malta Police Force, Malta Security Service, Customs authorities and others
• strengthen law enforcement cooperation and information exchange via INTERPOL

3. Trade, investment, research and innovation

Trade

• make renewed efforts to strengthen our commercial ties by exchanging, and sharing with respective business communities, information on bilateral trade and investment opportunities, including in priority sectors such as pharmaceuticals and the green economy
• share information about any significant trade barriers reported by UK and Maltese businesses to promote the optimum environment for trade and investment
• make renewed efforts to work closely for the purposes of increasing two-way investment, to and from Malta and the UK respectively, especially with regards to start-ups
• ensure that UK businesses are well sighted and able to support key Maltese infrastructure development, including offshore energy solutions, and transport projects such as the proposed Metro

Innovative technologies

• launch a dialogue on emerging technology trends and policy interventions to promote innovation. Explore areas for future collaboration in key sectors, particularly with regard to research
• examine how to deepen scientific research links in priority areas for each country
• explore opportunities for collaboration through multilateral projects or joint applications to research and innovation programmes
• cooperate in the development of certifications of innovative technologies with a view to allowing for mutual recognition of such certifications

4. Energy, climate change and sustainability

Energy

• work together to strengthen our energy security and accelerate the transition towards sustainable and affordable energy supplies
• explore opportunities for wind farms in Malta and its waters to help integrate renewable energy whilst providing secure energy supplies at the lowest cost for consumers

Achieving climate resilience

• serve as role models and advocate for strong climate and environmental action by promoting ocean conservation and protection, halting biodiversity loss, deforestation and land degradation, and continuing our global leadership towards net zero emissions
• launch a series of UK-Malta climate leadership events hosted jointly by the British High Commission and Malta’s Climate Ambassador/Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade to generate ideas, momentum and action
• improve cooperation on the transition to zero emissions vehicles, including by sharing UK expertise on the development of necessary infrastructure
• work towards attaining the objectives of the Glasgow Breakthrough on road transport and other international objectives in this area
• share best practice and expertise on green hydrogen, emerging energy technologies, mass storage solutions, water demand management and the climate-water nexus
• follow up from the forest and land use declaration at COP26, including with a focus on sustainable agriculture practices
• share expertise and tools in the protection of the marine environment
• consolidate and strengthen bilateral cooperation on biodiversity through investment, research and adaptation to climate risks by sharing information, expertise and best practice
• support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed at Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 in December 2022

Sustainability

• share UK expertise on the future of cities, including walking and cycling infrastructure, urban greening and improving infrastructure and planning practices, including through direct engagement with UK local government organisations and Active Travel England
• explore opportunities to work bilaterally and multilaterally to pool research, share data and advance the sustainable development agenda

Climate and security

• cooperate on the climate security nexus, including with respect to Small Island State resilience and adaptation
• provide UK support for Malta in taking action around the effects of climate change on Small Island States, including desertification and water security

5. People and culture

Citizens’ rights

• ensure citizens’ rights elements of Withdrawal Agreement are enacted fairly and appropriately in both Malta and the UK

Culture

• explore options for partnership between UK heritage institutions and Heritage Malta to support them in delivery of key projects, including Villa Guardamangia

Health

• continue to review the Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement between the UK and Malta to ensure its fitness for purpose

Education

• strengthen people-to-people links and collaboration through education partnerships, and sharing of best practice on apprenticeships, and official programmes such as the Turing Scheme
• explore arrangements to facilitate the mutual recognition of professional qualifications where appropriate, strictly within the boundaries of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, general EU legal order and other EU and international obligations that might ensue

Governance arrangements

The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta will have overarching responsibility for this Declaration. They will establish an annual dialogue, which could alternate its location between Valletta and London, to review progress, propose new initiatives and consider possibilities for further dialogue and cooperation.

The Maltese Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, will name senior officials to lead on the implementation of this agreement, convening other officials as appropriate, and report progress to ministers.

At the request of either Participant, this Framework may be reviewed or modified by mutual consent. Any such modification will be done in writing and would come into effect on a date to be decided by mutual consent.

The foregoing represents the understanding reached between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the Republic of Malta upon the matters referred to therein.

This Framework is not legally binding and does not give rise to any rights or obligations under domestic or international law. It will come into effect on signature and will continue in operation until terminated by either Participant giving six months’ written notice of termination to the other.

Signed in Valletta, on 10 February 2023.

Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, Foreign Secretary, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Dr Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Republic of Malta