Malta’s Social Climate Plan gets EU approval

The European Commission has approved Malta’s €60.6 million Social Climate Plan, aimed at helping vulnerable households and small businesses manage the transition to cleaner energy and transport.

The plan will run from 2026 to 2032, with €45.4 million funded by the EU and the Maltese government contributing the remaining €15.2 million.

The fund is intended to cushion the financial impact of carbon pricing on vulnerable households, transport users and small businesses as the EU moves towards cleaner energy sources.

The measures are expected to tackle energy poverty in Malta while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The funding will be used to improve the energy efficiency of vulnerable households through measures including roof insulation, heat-pump water heaters, solar panels, and battery-storage systems.

It will also finance renovations in public social housing and expand door-to-door community transport services for more than 30,000 vulnerable users.

Small businesses in transport-dependent sectors will also receive support to switch to electric vehicles and access charging infrastructure.

Malta is among the first eight member states to formally submit a Social Climate Plan, alongside Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Sweden’s plan was the first to be adopted, followed by the endorsement of the plans submitted by Lithuania and Latvia.