Ministries to keep track of proposals’ progress through internal monthly updates
In the first MCESD meeting of this legislature, Cabinet Secretary Ryan Spagnol said that every ministry will be appointing a project manager to oversee the overall implementation of all electoral pledges under its cap.
This project manager will also update the government’s central system so that progress on all electoral promises remains clear internally.
On Monday morning, the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) met for its first meeting following the recent general election.
The MCESD convened to discuss the government’s implementation programme for the next five years (2026-2031).
During the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary said that by the end of last May, 85% of all electoral pledges from the previous legislature were fulfilled (up from the 82% implementation rate shared by the Prime Minister in late March), and that the remaining 15% will be carried forward into this legislature by the government and its respective ministries.
Spagnol said that all ministries were assigned the electoral manifesto proposals (EMPs) they shall be responsible for, over this legislature, during the first Cabinet meeting, which took place last week on Tuesday, 9 June.
He added that the ministries are currently working on devising a project plan to see how to implement each EMP.
This initial project scoping and planning exercise is expected to take four weeks, he said.
Once the ministries have designed a project plan for every EMP – to ensure that they are implemented on time, within budget, and within project specifications – Ministers will be proposing the first set of EMPs that they want to see included in the next annual budget.
The first reporting cycle for these project managers will take place in a couple of months and will last between August and October.
Spagnol told MCESD members that EMP project managers will be required to give monthly progress reports, in which they will outline key achievements, upcoming milestones, and any risks or challenges that may impact the timely delivery of the electoral pledge in question.
These in-depth monthly updates will remain internal throughout the legislature, this newsroom was told.
Spagnol said that these project managers will assume responsibility for coordinating and updating the Malta Vision 2050 initiatives being undertaken, and budget measures. He said that this process is designed to ensure uniformity and consistency in this reporting process, while avoiding instances of double reporting.
The project manager will also be updating the government’s Manifesto Implementation System (MIS) tool, i.e., the central government’s core database. Spagnol mentioned that this project management tool enables users to effectively plan projects, monitor and record progress, and measure performance against key performance indicators (KPIs).
The Cabinet Secretary said that previously, such tasks were done within the Office of the Prime Minister, through its Implementation Unit that was set up in 2013.
He said that the OPM’s Implementation Unit will be responsible for monitoring the EMP implementation of any improvements to wellbeing. This is part of the government’s key wellbeing index pledge, through which it hopes to boost people’s wellbeing in the Maltese islands by 25%.
Spagnol said that this index was tailor-made for Malta and its contexts. This Wellbeing Index focuses on 10 dimensions that cover “important aspects of quality of life,” each having two indicators. The Wellbeing Index’s 10 dimensions are: environmental sustainability; quality of our environment; health; personal wellbeing; accommodation (commonly referred to as “housing”); social protection; civil participation and personal rights; income and wealth; education and skills; and job quality and satisfaction.
Listed government targets over key sectors
In the presentation, Spagnol went over some of the government’s main targets over the next five years, for 2035, and 2050.
As of 2023, Malta was ranked 25th globally in the United Nations’ Human Development Index; the government wants Malta to break into the top 20 by 2035 and the top 10 by 2050.
The government also envisions Malta’s life satisfaction rate – among Eurostat’s EU rankings – to break into the top 10 by 2035 and top 5 by 2050. Malta ranked 13th from the EU’s 27 Member States in 2023.
Additionally, Malta’s median disposable income was recorded as 93% of the EU27 average in 2023; it wants this statistic to rise up to 115% by 2035 and 135% by 2050.
Spagnol told MCESD partners that the government wants Malta’s burden of debt (debt-to-GDP ratio) to decrease to 40% by 2030.
Moreover, it wants Malta’s gross national income (GNI) per capita to be within the best five countries in the Eurozone; for the digital sector, services, and added-value manufacturing to register a two-thirds share of the country’s generated economic growth; and for the national GDP to increase by an average of 4% in the next five years.
Regarding employment, the aim is for Malta to retain its Eurozone-low unemployment and youth unemployment rates and for Malta to have one of the lowest gender pay gaps in the EU (target for Malta to break into the top 3, Malta currently sits fifth).
Spagnol said that Malta sits atop European innovation rankings and that the government aims for 40% of businesses to use AI technologies.
He continued that less than 4% of people in Malta experience severe material and social deprivation rate and that the country has witnessed a 10% reduction in the number of people depending on social assistance.
He also said that Malta is performing above average in the EU vis-à-vis education, and mentioned the 2030 goal for 25% of Malta’s generated energy to come from renewables.
Spagnol also said that Malta seeks to retain its top spot for health life expectancy by addressing obesity rates.
One government target is for all children to be involved in sports, arts, or other cultural activities. He said that this is one measure that, currently, cannot be measured and said that “we need a national measure” to be able to observe this.
Government looks forward to continue collaborating with MCESD
Prime Minister Robert Abela said that many of the great challenges the country faced under his tenure in office were shouldered thanks to the MCESD’s advice, including the economic difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He reiterated that Malta ranks top in the EU in economic growth and job creation, even though the most recent Eurostat shows that Malta registered the second-largest economic growth in the EU over the previous quarter and in the past year. Malta only trailed Denmark in both categories for rises in national GDP.
Speaking about the upcoming legislature, Abela said that the MCESD must discuss with employers to find a balance between maintaining productivity and boosting people’s quality of life by strengthening parental leave amongst other electoral measures.
Abela also said that he remains optimistic with the developments in Iran and reiterated that his government will retain its energy subsidies, despite questions on their long-term sustainability.
Minister for EU Funds Keith Azzopardi Tanti said that enhancing quality of life is the central principle of the government’s electoral programme. He commented that the government, and social partners, must bolster businesses’ competitiveness and improve working conditions nationwide, as well as implement the PL manifesto as soon as possible so that the people can reap its fruit as quickly as possible.
MCESD chairperson Maria Micallef said that “the fact that one of the first activities of this legislature is an MCESD meeting” showed how well-regarded this consultative forum is viewed by elected officials.
She said that the MCESD has brought government and social partners together to achieve “clear solutions” in the best interests of the country.
Micallef said that despite the disagreements between government and social partners on occasion, the collective mission to improve life on the Maltese islands is what will help it continue working to improve people’s quality of life over this legislature.
Micallef also said that it is important for the MCESD to keep sight of the implementation of Vision 2050 and that she is convinced that social partners can continue collaborating in the name of sustainable progress and a better future.
Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana said that as projects and measures are being implemented, it is pertinent to “be sensitive to operators.”
He listed key professions such as teachers, doctors, nurses, and disciplined forces, noting that these workers “are often only mentioned when something arises.”
He added that in October, the government will present its annual budget implementation document for public scrutiny.
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