I thank you for this invitation to address the participants of this year’s Eurochambres General Assembly, which is being held in Malta.
This is a key moment in the network’s annual governance cycle, when members set the strategic direction, approve reports and prepare the way for Europe’s businesses in the year ahead.
This Assembly underlines the relevance of this network of chambers, not only at the European level but increasingly in the wider international arena, as it helps businesses navigate global competition, technological innovation and shifting geopolitical realities.
For more than three decades, The Malta Chamber has been part of the EUROCHAMBRES family, sharing its mission to give a strong, coherent voice to Europe’s enterprises.
Established in 1958 as a direct response to the creation of the European Economic Community, the Eurochambres acted as the eyes, ears and voice of European Chambers and business communities.
With 20 million businesses through its members and a network of 1700 regional and local chambers across Europe, Eurochambres is the leading voice for the broad business community at EU level, building on chambers’ strong connections with the grass roots economy and their hands-on support to entrepreneurs.
Over the years, Maltese representatives have not merely occupied seats around the table; they have actively and meaningfully contributed to the governance and direction of EUROCHAMBRES, earning recognition among their peers as constructive, forward-looking partners.
This engagement reflects a broader reality: that Malta, though small in size, is fully committed to the European project and ready to shoulder responsibilities that extend beyond its geographical borders.
Today’s gathering comes at a time when Europe’s businesses face profound and overlapping transformations.
Digitalisation is reshaping the way we produce, trade and communicate, whilst the green transition is redefining how we use resources, manage risk and create value.
On another level, geopolitical uncertainty, demographic pressures and rapid technological change all converge to test the resilience of our enterprises and the cohesion of our societies.
In this context, chambers of commerce serve as an essential bridge between policymakers and the real economy.
They translate European ambitions into national realities and feed national experiences back into the European debate, making this network more relevant today than at any time in its history.
In Malta, this bridge is clearly visible in our digital transformation journey.
Our country has set out a Digital Decade roadmap that places digital skills, advanced connectivity, the digitalisation of businesses and the digitalisation of public services at its core.
Malta officially ranked first in Europe for eGovernment services following the eGovernment Benchmark 2025report issued by the European Commission. This report analyses the online government services of European Member States over the past year, and the Maltese Public Service has once again achieved outstanding results.
An investment in people, infrastructure and governance which ensures that digital technologies are not an optional extra, but a normal part of the way citizens live and companies operate.
In doing so, we are investing in our most precious resource: our people.
With limited land, no vast natural riches, and all the constraints of a small state, we have learned that our competitiveness must be built on the talent, creativity and resilience of our citizens.
The Malta Chamber has been at the forefront of this process.
Through initiatives focused on digital, smart, and resilient businesses, projects in sectors like tourism, and collaboration with national authorities on tools such as centralised data repositories and digital business wallets, it has turned policy into practice.
These efforts show what can be achieved when business organisations, regulators and government share a common purpose: to make digital technologies a source of empowerment rather than a barrier or a new layer of complexity.
Hence, Maltese representatives within EUROCHAMBRES are able to bring concrete experiences and solutions to the table, helping the network remain focused on what works on the ground.
This Assembly is also an opportunity to showcase Malta’s broader business environment and innovation culture.
Over the past decades, our country has transformed itself into a diversified, open and outward‑looking economy.
In many ways, Malta can be compared to a start‑up: small in size, but agile, flexible and willing to innovate and, when necessary, to depart from established patterns in order to remain competitive.
Our small size allows us to test new approaches quickly, to adjust rapidly when circumstances change, and to work closely across institutions and sectors to implement reforms.
At the heart of all this lies an approach that Malta values deeply: the importance of structured dialogue and consultation.
When government, business, workers and civil society sit around the same table, it becomes easier to prioritise, to calibrate reforms, and to ensure that European legislation is implemented in a way that reflects national realities while remaining faithful to fundamental rules and aims.
The Malta Chamber has repeatedly played this convening role, helping our country navigate major transitions such as EU accession, the introduction of the euro and the current waves of digital and green transformation.
This is an experience that Malta brings to the wider European discussion.
It is the means by which policies become implementable and by which citizens and businesses feel a sense of ownership over the changes that affect them.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The decisions you discuss, the priorities you set, and the messages you transmit from this Assembly will resonate far beyond these days in Malta.
They will help shape how Europe’s businesses face the coming decade—how they embrace digitalisation, how they manage the green transition, how they compete globally while remaining true to our European model.
I thank you for your contribution and beneficial influence on Europe’s enterprising communities, and for the trust you place in The Malta Chamber.
I wish you a productive and inspiring Assembly, fruitful discussions, and a memorable stay in our country.