The Government of Malta has commissioned ESPON to undertake a comprehensive study examining the economic implications of Malta’s insularity. As a small island state located on the periphery of the European Union, Malta encounters distinct territorial challenges that influence its economic growth and regional competitiveness.

This study seeks to generate robust territorial evidence to better understand how Malta’s geographical isolation and limited market size affect critical policy domains such as cohesion, economic competitiveness, infrastructure planning, and resilience to external shocks.

Malta is currently aligning its spatial policy focus with the ESPON 2030 Thematic Action Plan (TAP) ‘Places Resilient to Crises’, with special attention given to its island state context. This thematic focus is shaping the direction of national spatial planning efforts and providing a sound territorial basis for broader socio-economic strategies.

As part of this initiative, the Maltese ESPON Contact Points organised an ECP Network Seminar dedicated to resilience in island contexts. To enrich the discussion with an international outlook, a representative from Cyprus contributed by sharing how the country has managed coastal risks and implemented adaptive strategies to support the resilience of its island communities.

The seminar followed a technical workshop linked to the ongoing ESPON study M-INSULAR, which explores the economic costs of Malta’s insularity. This workshop presented early findings and sought to deepen understanding of the island’s specific challenges through dialogue with experts and stakeholders.

The seminar included a contribution from the Maltese ECP, who presented how the Resilience to Crises action plan is being contextualised within the Maltese policy framework. This session highlighted the broader goals of the TAP and how it supports vulnerable or geographically disadvantaged regions, particularly island territories, in developing the capacity to anticipate, absorb, and recover from various shocks. The emphasis was on the value of evidence-based territorial planning as a foundation for resilient and future-ready policy development.

Further insights provided by the Gozo Regional Development Authority, which addressed Gozo’s status as a doubly insular territory, an island within the island state of Malta. The discussion focused on the region’s limited connectivity, constrained service provision, and narrow economic base. The Authority outlined the strategies and investments being pursued to promote sustainable growth, including enhanced local governance, tailored infrastructure solutions, and initiatives that foster innovation, tourism diversification, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Complementing this, the Climate Action Authority presented Malta’s national strategy for climate adaptation, in light of the increasing urgency posed by global climate change. Their contribution explored the country’s efforts to manage risks such as sea-level rise, water scarcity, and extreme weather events, with a focus on integrating adaptation into planning, development, and environmental protection.

The seminar concluded with a focused dialogue on navigating territorial resilience in times of crisis. Drawing from the day's exchanges, this discussion explored how island and peripheral regions can reinforce their capacity to respond to shocks, adapt to long-term pressures, and maintain social and economic cohesion in an increasingly volatile global landscape.