An island between Italy and north Africa. Its most recent importance was as a British naval base, part of the route to India and a British base during the second world war. But it is a transition zone between Europe and Africa. The language is closest to Arabic but is a separate dialect, perhaps derived from the Phoenicians.

It was mentioned in the New Testament as the place where St Paul was shipwrecked. Malta has been part of many empires including the Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, the Norman kingdom of Sicily, the Aragonese, from 1530 it belonged to the Knights Hospitallers who defended it against the Ottomans, then to the French during the Napoleonic wars, captured by the British in 1810 and from 1814 a British colony. It has been independent since 1964. The final departure of British troops was in 1979.

Since then the island has tried to live by providing maritime services and tourism. When a left wing government was elected the prime minister looked for aid from Libya. Recently a right wing government has succeeded and the government now looks towards the European Union. A referendum held in March 2003 confirmed membership which took effect in the April 2004 wave. Will people migrate to Italy when the freedom to move is implemented?

Maltese (Arabic dialect)

English

Italian

Parliamentary system with executive prime minister and ceremonial president. Actual change of party has occurred on several occasions.

The two main parties are the Nationalists (currently in office) and the Malta Labour Party. The Catholic Church, to which most Maltese belong, has been an opponent of the Labour party. The Labour party looked towards the former colonial world for support, especially Libya. The Nationalists look towards Europe and the EU.

The September 1998 elections returned a Nationalist (Conservative) government which applied to join the EU in the next wave (2004).

Main industries are tourism and shipping services.

While sanctions were applied to Libya, and there were no air services there, Malta was a busy ferry port for Libyan travel.

Malta adopted the euro in January 2008

Water problems, as climate gets drier.

Most serious problem is the arrival of large numbers of illegal immigrants from North Africa, hoping to enter the EU. Malta cannot support the numbers but other members are unwilling to accept them.

Likely to get drier, with a shortage of water, already a serious problem.