Malta(Republic of Malta) is a state located in southern Europe in the Mediterranean Sea. The state is a member of the European Union, but is not part of the Schengen area. A visa is required to visit the country. Malta is the smallest state in the European Union both in terms of population and area. Malta has a population of 452,000 people. Malta is in the same time zone. The capital of the country is Valletta. Another major city in Malta is Birkirkara. It is larger than Valletta and is the largest city in the country. There are no cities with a population of more than a million people in Malta, since the population of the entire state is only almost half a million inhabitants. The difference with universal time is two hours.
Malta is an island state. Like Iceland, Malta is surrounded on all sides by the Mediterranean Sea. It has a maritime border with Italy. Malta is located on seven islands. The country is only 27 km long and 15 km wide. Malta's two smallest islands are uninhabited.
Despite its small size, Malta has several forested areas. The largest forest area, Busquette Forest, is a favorite place for walks and recreation for the Maltese.
There are no mountain ranges in Malta; there are many low hills. The highest point of the country is located at an altitude of 253 meters above sea level.
Malta is considered the only country in Europe (except for city states) that does not have permanent rivers or lakes. Temporary rivers form in the spring season during the period of massive precipitation and dry up by the beginning of summer. There is no fresh water in Malta; it is imported into the country from Italian Sicily.
Despite its small size, the country has its own administrative and territorial units. It is divided into six districts: Inner Harbour, Northern, Outer Harbour, Western, South-Eastern, Gozo and Comino.
Map
Roads
Malta has no railways.
The condition of Maltese roads is satisfactory. Most roads require major repairs. There are no autobahns in the country.
Story
Malta has experienced several historical periods of its development:
a) Ancient Malta - settlement of the island by the first people, the emergence of colonies of the Phoenicians and Greeks (8th century BC), entry into Persia, entry into Carthage, entry into the Holy Roman Empire, entry into the Byzantine Empire, entry into the Arab Empire caliphate, entry into the Norman state, entry into Spain;
b) Malta in the Middle Ages and in Modern times - the formation of the Order of Malta (1530), the aggression of the Ottoman Empire (1565), the seizure of Malta by Napoleon and the French occupation (1798), the entry of the Order of Malta under the patronage of the Russian Empire (December 1798) , occupation of Malta by Great Britain (1800), entry of Malta into Great Britain (1814), introduction of local self-government (1921);
c) Malta during the Second World War (1939-1945) - air and sea blockade of the country, raids by German and Italian aircraft;
d) Independent Malta - declaration of formal independence from Great Britain (1964) with the preservation of the power of the Queen of England, proclamation of a republic (1974), establishment of full state sovereignty (1979);
e) Malta in modern times - referendum on joining the European Union (2003), accession to the European Union (2004).
Minerals
Malta has no mineral resources. There is no oil, gas or coal in the country at all; energy resources are imported from other countries. Among other minerals, the country has large reserves of building limestone. A technology for extracting salt from sea water is being developed.
Climate
The climate of Malta is subtropical Mediterranean, very hot. Winter is mild and rainy, there is no snow here. In the coldest month – February – the temperature is up to 20 degrees Celsius. Summer is dry and hot with rare rains. In 2011, Malta was recognized as having the best climate in the world.
The content of the article
MALTA, The Republic of Malta is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea, 95 km from Sicily and 290 km from Tunisia. Area 316 sq. km. It consists of the islands of Malta (246 sq. km), Gozo (67 sq. km) and Comino (2.6 sq. km), separated by deep straits. The capital is the city of Valletta on the northern shore of the island of Malta. 9.3 thousand people live in Valletta, in the adjacent cities: Birkirkara - 21.2 thousand, Qormi - 17.7 thousand, Mosta - 16.7 thousand. In fact, they all merged into a single agglomeration. From 1814, Malta was a British colony until independence in 1964. In 1974, the Republic of Malta was proclaimed. The country occupies an important strategic position between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal.
Nature.
The Maltese islands are composed of limestone with thin layers of clay and sandstone. Relatively soft, light-brown globigerine limestones are easily weathered, and fertile soils are formed on them, widely used in agriculture. On older dense coral limestones, typical reddish soils are developed, which are difficult to cultivate or are not at all suitable for agriculture. Most of the country is dominated by flat terrain. Only in the northwestern part of the island of Malta, as a result of tectonic movements along faults, a differentiation occurred between uplifted limestone blocks with steep slopes and basins filled with loose sediments. The highest altitudes (up to 253 m) are located near the southern coast of the island. Accordingly, many rivers flow from south to north, their valleys in the upper parts are deeply cut into the topography. In summer, rivers often dry up. There are many convenient harbors on the island of Malta, the best are near the city of Valletta. The southern coast of the island is leveled and steep.
Summer in Malta is hot and dry, the average temperature in August is 25° C. Winter is mild, humid, the average temperature in January is 12° C. In summer, sultry winds from the Sahara - sirocco - often blow. During June and August, agriculture relies heavily on irrigation. The average annual precipitation is 500 mm, most of it falls in September and May, at which time agricultural work intensifies. There are strong fluctuations in the long-term course of precipitation, and in dry years it is necessary to limit water use.
Population.
In 2003, 400.4 thousand people lived in Malta. Human. In the 19th century emigration from the island of Malta took on significant proportions. The main flows of emigrants were sent to the countries of Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and after the First World War, mainly to Australia, as well as to Great Britain, Canada and the USA. After 1945, a decline in the birth rate and high rates of emigration (about 1% of the population per year) restrained population growth, and since the early 1960s there has been a population decline. In 2003, the birth rate was 12.75 per 1000 inhabitants, and the death rate was 7.8 deaths per 1000 inhabitants. Life expectancy for men is 75.94 years, and for women - 81.14.
The majority of the population is concentrated in the Valletta urban agglomeration, adjacent to the Marsamxett and Grand Harbor harbours. Rural settlements arose mainly in the Middle Ages, and some of them have more than 8 thousand inhabitants. Many residents of these settlements are employed in agriculture, and a significant portion work in cities. Maltese villages traditionally celebrate the days of their patrons - the saints of the Roman Catholic Church. In June, the whole country celebrates harvest day (Imparia). The whole country celebrates September 8 - the day of Malta's victory during the Great Siege of 1565 and in the Second World War (this holiday is called Regatta). The biggest holiday in Malta takes place in mid-February - a three-day carnival.
The official languages are English and Maltese. In everyday life, the islanders use the Maltese language, which is similar to Arabic, with borrowings from Romance and English languages. Legal proceedings are conducted in this language. Literature in Maltese is poor. Education is given mainly in English. Many educated people also speak Italian.
In Malta, the Roman Catholic Church dominates. More than 360 churches and chapels have been built in the country, many of them are remarkable architectural monuments. Being deeply religious people, the Maltese often organize religious holidays, accompanied by fireworks and performances by brass bands.
In the past, the church had a great influence on politics. For example, until 1969 she criticized the activities of the Maltese Labor Party. Since 1974 the church has no longer been involved in political activities, but maintains a strong influence in the educational system.
Government system and politics.
From 1964–1974, Malta was a parliamentary monarchy, part of the British Commonwealth; The head of state was considered the British monarch, represented by the governor-general. The new constitution declared Malta a republic on December 13, 1974. The last changes to the constitution were made in 1987.
The head of state is the president, elected by parliament for a five-year term. The country's first president, from 1974 to 1976, was former Governor-General Anthony Mamo. Labor's Anton Buttigieg and Agatha Barbara served as president from 1976–1982 and 1982–1987. He then moved on to politicians from the Nationalist Party of Malta (NPM) - Paul Schwereb (1987-1989), Chentz Tabone (1989-1994) and Hugo Mifsud Bonnici (1994-1999). Since April 4, 1999, the President of Malta has been a member of the NPM, Guido De Marco. De Marco was born in 1931, worked as a lawyer and professor of criminal law at the University of Malta. From 1966 he was a member of parliament from the NPM, and from 1972–1977 the party’s general secretary. In 1987, De Marco became Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Internal Affairs and Justice, and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990–1996 and 1998–1999.
Legislative power in the republic belongs to a unicameral parliament – the House of Representatives. It consists of 65 deputies elected for a period of five years. Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the Prime Minister. The government is formed by the political party with the majority of seats in parliament. Since September 1998, Prime Minister has been Edouard Fenech Adami. E. Fenech Adami was born in 1934, studied law, worked as a lawyer. In 1961 he joined the NPM, was the editor-in-chief of the party organ, the newspaper Il Poplu, and was first elected to parliament in 1969. In 1975 he became Deputy Secretary General of the NPM. Leader of the Opposition 1981–1987 and 1996–1998; in 1987–1996 he headed the government of Malta.
Political parties.
National Party of Malta (NPM) – created in 1926 on the basis of the Maltese Political Union and the National Democratic Party. Currently it is a Christian Democratic party. In the field of economics, he advocates a “free market economy”, the development of private property and foreign investment, and limiting government intervention in the economy. In foreign policy, he focuses on Western countries and the European Union. In the post-World War II period, it was in power from 1950–1955, 1962–1971, 1987–1996 and from 1998. In the parliamentary elections in April 2003, the NPM received 51.8% of the vote and won 34 of the 65 seats in the House of Representatives.
Malta Labor Party (MLP) – Social Democratic, founded in 1920, part of the Socialist International. Traditionally, she advocated strengthening the public sector in the economy, expanding the social security system, health care and education. In foreign policy he defends the neutrality and non-alignment of Malta. The LPM was in power from 1947–1949, 1955–1958, 1971–1987 and 1996–1998. In the 2003 parliamentary elections, she collected 47.5% of the vote and has 31 seats in the House of Representatives.
Democratic Alternative (YES) – a political organization uniting left-wing circles and environmental activists. It was formed in 1991, including the Democratic Party, the Greens, etc. In the 2003 parliamentary elections it received 0.7% of the vote. Not represented in parliament.
Economy.
During the reign of the Knights of the Order of St. John (1530–1798) and Great Britain (1800–1964), living standards were generally significantly higher than in neighboring countries. Increased attention to military facilities did not impede the development of other sectors of the economy. These trends, however, were restrained due to limited natural resources and the narrowness of the domestic market. After the Second World War, Malta was in a position to develop a more diversified economy. In 1957, the British began to close down their military base in Malta.
Largely thanks to British economic assistance, Malta was able to adapt to new conditions. Since 1959, plans for the development of tourism, light industry and trade began to be implemented. The importance of tourism for Malta has increased with the growing prosperity of Western European countries and the demand for holidays in the Mediterranean. In the mid-1990s, more than 1.2 million tourists visited Malta annually. Many of them arrived on cruise ships that stopped at the port of Valletta - Grand Harbor.
Malta has proven attractive for the location of new industrial sectors, specializing in automobile assembly, textiles, clothing, paper products and furniture, as well as electronics and pharmaceuticals. Many of the new businesses are located in the cities of Birkirkara, Qormi, Mosta and others within the Valletta metropolitan area. Their population has grown rapidly over the past 20 years. Malta provided investors with tax incentives and financing on favorable terms.
In the country's economy, an important place is occupied by historically established industries - shipbuilding and ship repair, which have qualified workers.
Agriculture plays a small role in the country's economy and is still carried out in traditional ways. The area of cultivated land has decreased primarily due to the alienation of the least productive lands. Malta's main agricultural products are wheat, barley and fodder crops; potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables; various fruits; flowers and seeds.
Malta's leading trading partners are Italy, Germany, UK, USA and Libya. The main import items are mechanical engineering products, food, energy resources and chemical products. Mechanical engineering products and transport equipment account for about half of the country's export revenues. Malta has a persistent trade deficit. In 2001, import costs amounted to $2.8 billion, while only $2 billion was earned from exports. Profits from tourism of $587 million in 1995 helped partially cover this deficit.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2002 was estimated at $6,818 billion, or per capita $17,200.
The monetary unit is the Maltese lira (another name is the Maltese pound). The main sources of government revenue are customs duties, excise and income taxes, as well as EEC assistance.
Education
in Malta it is free and compulsory for children aged 5 to 16 years. About 2/3 of the country's private schools are under the control of the Roman Catholic Church, and they are also free. Almost 6.4 thousand students studied at the Royal University of Malta (founded in 1592) in 1996.
Story.
It is assumed that in 5 thousand BC. Malta was settled by Neolithic tribes from Sicily. At the end of the Neolithic era and the Chalcolithic period, the archipelago became the center of a highly developed and still mysterious civilization, which left numerous monuments and structures on it. The most famous of these is the Hypogeum temple at Hal Saflieni, built between 3200 and 2900 BC. During its excavations, archaeologists found the remains of 6 thousand people buried along with various ritual objects. On the islands of Malta and Gozo, majestic megalithic temples have been preserved - the stone sanctuaries of Hal-Tarshien, Hajnar-Kim, Mnajdra, Mgarr, Ggantija and others. The population was engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and weaving. About 2 thousand years BC. this culture suddenly came to an end. The subsequent Bronze Age was accompanied by a dramatic and significant change in the lifestyle of the ancient Maltese.
In the 8th century. BC. Phoenician colonists settled on the islands, attracted to Malta by its convenient harbors and strategically advantageous position in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. It is assumed that the name Malta itself comes from the Phoenician word “Malat” - harbor. The Phoenicians surrounded the city of Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta, with a wall. The ancient Greeks also settled on the islands. In the 6th century BC. Malta came under the rule of Carthage, which lasted almost three hundred years. From this time, a column dedicated to the god Melqart has been preserved.
The Carthaginians turned the islands into an important naval base from which they could threaten Italy. In 257 BC. The Roman commander Attila Regulus captured Malta, but was unable to hold it. Only in 218 BC, during the Second Punic War, the Roman Empire managed to expel the Carthaginians and gain a foothold on the islands. The remains of villas with mosaic floors, baths, huge catacombs and other historical monuments still remind us of their stay here. Cicero and Livy described Mdina as a city with beautiful buildings and a high standard of living. Under the Romans, Malta was a center for the production of luxury goods. In addition, wheat and plums were grown on the islands; there was textile production.
During Roman times, Christianity spread to the Maltese Islands. According to legend, it was introduced by the Apostle Paul, who was shipwrecked here on his way to Rome in 60 AD. He spent three months in Malta, cured the father of the ruler Publius, founded a Christian community and appointed Publius the first bishop.
After the division of the Roman Empire, Malta became part of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium). In 870, the archipelago was captured by the Arabs, who had a great influence on the economy, culture and language of the population. They introduced an irrigation system, significantly increasing soil fertility. Under them, Islam established itself in Malta. In 1090 the islands were conquered by the Normans and became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. This meant restoration of ties with Europe, economic development and the return of Christianity. In the 13th century The last Muslims were evicted from the islands.
Together with Sicily, Malta came under Spanish rule in 1282. In the 12th–15th centuries. the island flourished; its inhabitants grazed livestock, grew wheat, cotton and caraway seeds, which they exported to European countries. Crafts developed and artisan guilds emerged. Malta remained a commercial center and port of international importance.
However, in the 15th century, at the height of the wars between European states and the Muslim dynasties of North Africa, Malta became the target of devastating pirate raids. Trade stopped and the island's economy collapsed. The situation changed when Malta was turned into a Christian outpost against Turkish expansion in the Mediterranean.
In 1530, the Spanish king Charles V transferred Malta to the Order of St. John, which has since become known as the Order of Malta. It was attacked by the Turks several times. After the raid of 1551, the Knights of Malta began to actively fortify the islands, and construction work contributed to the revival of the country's economy. In 1565, with the support of Spanish troops from Sicily, the order managed to repel the invasion of the 40,000-strong Turkish army and fleet of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In the battles, which lasted four months, 250 of the 600 knights and thousands of Maltese who defended the island died.
In 1566, the Grand Master of the Order, Jean le la Valette, founded a new city - Valletta, which had magnificent harbors with a convenient port and turned into a trading center of the Mediterranean. The city was a fortress, and most of the fortifications (Fort San Elmo) were carved into the rocks. In 1571 Valletta became the capital of Malta, and by 1674 already 12 thousand people lived in it. It was a rich, prosperous city, decorated with magnificent temples and Baroque houses. On the island of Malta, shipbuilding and ship repair began to develop rapidly, the production of sails and ropes, and the processing of metals and wood were established. Income from the order's property from all over Europe flocked to Malta, and the Knights of Malta, alien to the local population, indulged in luxury. They did not disdain the slave trade.
The total population of the archipelago from 1530 to 1798 increased from 20 thousand to 100 thousand people. But already by the 18th century. The Order of Malta began to lose its importance. The island's economy began to decline. The plague epidemic in 1676 caused heavy damage. Conflicts between the order and the local Catholic Church intensified, and in 1755 part of the clergy, with the support of the residents, rebelled against the despotism of the grand masters.
In 1798, heading to Egypt, the French fleet with Napoleon's army approached Malta. Grand Master Gompes surrendered the island without resistance in June. The act of surrender provided for the order's departure from Malta. But the initial enthusiasm of the Maltese gave way to indignation: the French occupiers plundered churches and palaces and introduced new taxes. Already in September, the inhabitants rebelled, proclaimed a republic on the island of Gozo, besieged Valletta and turned to Sicily and the British Admiral Nelson for help. After a long blockade, Nelson captured Malta in 1800. A British protectorate was established over the archipelago. Great Britain refused to return Malta to the order, citing a resolution of the islands' elected representatives. Rejecting Maltese calls for representative government, she declared Malta a British colony in 1813. The constitutions of 1813, 1835, 1849, 1887 and 1903 consolidated its colonial status. All power belonged to the British governor. In 1835, a council of 7 people was created under him, which included 2 Maltese representatives. In 1849, the election of some members of the council was introduced; in 1887, elected members received the majority of seats on the council.
A British military garrison was stationed in Malta, reaching 10 thousand troops. The island served as Britain's most important base. Since the 1840s, new military installations were built. Malta's strategic role increased even more during the Crimean War (1854–1856) and after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The island became the key to the sea route from Europe to India.
In 1919, for the first time, there was a major uprising of the Maltese against the colonial regime. It was suppressed, but contributed to the revitalization of socio-political life. In the 1920s, political parties emerged - Labor, National and others. In 1921 the population was granted limited self-government. The governor and his council retained control over matters of defense and foreign relations. The elected legislative assembly and senate exercised legislative and executive powers in internal affairs. However, due to political crises, the British administration suspended the constitution in 1930 and 1933, and repealed it in 1936. Until 1947, Malta was ruled solely by the governor.
During World War II, Malta endured a long blockade by Italy and Germany. 14 thousand bombs were dropped on the islands, killing at least one and a half thousand civilians and destroying 37 thousand buildings. From June 1940 to July 1943, the archipelago was cut off from the outside world. In 1942, for heroism in defense, the King of Great Britain awarded Malta the highest order - the Cross of St. George. Since then, his image has been placed on the Maltese flag.
In 1947, the British authorities restored constitutional self-government in Malta. During the elections to the Legislative Assembly, the Malta Labor Party (MLP) won, and its leader Paul Boffa formed the government of the country. But already in 1949 there was a split in the party due to disagreements on issues of British financial assistance. After leaving the LPM, Boffa created a new Workers' Party, which entered into a bloc with the Nationalist Party (NPM). After the early elections of 1950, a coalition government was created led by the nationalist leader Enrico Mizzi, and after his death by Giorgio Borg Olivier. The ruling coalition won subsequent elections in 1951 and 1953.
The NPM, which headed the government cabinet, put forward the slogan of complete self-government for Malta, in which foreign policy and defense issues would be resolved jointly by the British and the Maltese. The Labor Party, led by Dominic Mintoff, sought during this period the gradual inclusion of Malta into the constitutional and socio-economic structure of the metropolis. In 1955, Labor won the general elections, and D. Mintoff's government began negotiations with Great Britain on integration. The corresponding initiative was approved in a referendum in 1956. However, the British side refused to provide Malta with financial and economic assistance to the extent that the Mintoff government considered necessary for integration. Having failed to implement their plans, Maltese Labor demanded immediate and complete independence of the country. During the struggle, they resorted to methods of passive resistance, civil disobedience, appeals to the UN, international organizations and great powers. In 1958, the Maltese held mass demonstrations for independence, the government pointedly resigned, and a general strike began. Protesters attacked police stations, disrupted communications, and erected barricades. The British governor declared a state of emergency, banned meetings, and called in additional troops. Further negotiations did not produce results, and in 1959 the British authorities suspended the constitution. In response, the Maltese launched a campaign of civil disobedience and strikes. In 1961, Great Britain was forced to grant internal self-government to Malta. The archipelago ceased to be a colony and turned into an autonomous state. However, the British Governor-General still had the final say in all matters. In 1962 elections were held to the House of Representatives. They brought victory to the NPM, which received the support of the Catholic Church and sought in the future to transform Malta into a British dominion cooperating with NATO. Labor, which demanded a republic, was defeated. The new nationalist government was formed by Borg Olivier. In 1963, a conference on the independence of Malta was held in London, and in May 1964, a constitution for an independent state was approved in a referendum. On the night of September 21, 1964, Malta became independent. The British Queen remained at the head of the state. The country was bound by a ten-year agreement About mutual defense and assistance with the former metropolis, British troops and bases continued to be stationed on its territory (in exchange for financial subsidies). Labor was highly critical of the terms of independence. But in the 1966 elections they were defeated again.
The Maltese state established diplomatic relations with various countries (including the USSR in 1967). But in general, the NPM government focused its foreign policy on Great Britain and the United States. In 1965, Malta signed a resolution establishing a “special relationship” with NATO. Agreements were reached with the United States on the servicing of American military vessels. Since 1967, the country has been negotiating cooperation with the EEC and in 1970 concluded an association agreement with the European Community.
The Maltese government was unhappy with the British government's decision to reduce the presence of its troops on the islands, which left 6.5 thousand Maltese unemployed. Thanks to the agreement with the UK, it was possible to slow down this process, reduce the number of layoffs and compensate for them by creating new jobs.
Malta's economic situation worsened after the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967. Fewer ships began calling at the island’s ports, and budget revenues decreased. The volume of ship repair work decreased, the trade deficit and negative balance of payments grew. The Maltese government devalued the pound, nationalized dry docks and obtained additional financial support from Great Britain, but these measures could not stop the growing crisis. In 1969, Great Britain announced the suspension of assistance under the financial agreements of 1964. The new conditions were less favorable for Malta. The government had to resort to loans and credits. Rising prices, unemployment and low wages caused numerous protests and strikes.
Before the general elections of 1971, the opposition Labor Party was able to agree with the Catholic Church on the latter's non-interference in politics. LPM promised to ensure the country's economic independence, develop national industry and agriculture, reduce public debt and expand social security. On foreign policy, Labor called for a review of military agreements with the UK and agreements with the EEC, an increase in British financial compensation for the use of military bases, non-alignment of Malta and strengthening ties with neighboring Libya. Labor was supported by the largest trade union association, the General Labor Union. Having won 28 of the 55 seats in the House of Representatives, the LPM formed a government in June 1971 headed by D. Mintoff.
Having come to power, Labor carried out a number of economic and political reforms. They limited government spending, established government control over imports, exports of currency, and prices, began subsidizing basic food and industrial goods, created a dock administration, and took measures to reduce dependence on the British pound sterling. The state began to intervene extensively in the economy. Projects were developed to accelerate industrialization, enterprises were built with state participation, industrial zones were created, as well as state-owned and mixed companies in such areas as maritime and air transport, energy, communications and information, banking, and oil exploration. Unions were allowed to operate the docks. The agreement on the presence of British troops was canceled and revised in 1972 on more favorable terms for Malta. Tourism developed. Measures were taken to reduce unemployment. In the social field, allowances for high costs, pensions and benefits, as well as allocations for housing construction were increased. The authorities increased wages and introduced a 40-hour and five-day working week.
The economic activity of the state did not mean a refusal to develop private enterprise - Maltese and foreign. The Labor government provided tax and other incentives to foreign investors. Malta continued to receive foreign loans and credits.
By the mid-1970s, the government managed to stabilize and improve the economic situation. The standard of living in Malta was one of the highest in the Mediterranean. Although economic growth slowed at the end of the decade, the country's situation remained satisfactory.
In 1974, the Maltese Labor government achieved changes to the country's constitution. A republic was proclaimed, the voting qualification was reduced from 21 to 18 years, the scope of the church's activities was somewhat limited, and civil marriages were introduced. In 1975, the LPM again won the parliamentary elections, collecting an absolute majority of votes.
On foreign policy, the Labor government ended its "special" relationship with NATO, expelled the bloc's naval commander and banned visits from American warships. In 1979, British troops were finally withdrawn, and the base where they were located was closed. In 1980–1981 Malta declared itself a neutral state. Ties developed with Libya, which provided Malta with significant financial assistance, and other countries in Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean. Relations with the Eastern Bloc states and China improved. True, in 1980 relations with Libya deteriorated due to disagreements about boundaries on the continental shelf. Libya sent military ships to the conflict area, Malta filed a complaint with the UN Security Council. Subsequently, a decision was made to refer the issue to the International Court, and ties between the two states began to be restored.
In 1981, when crisis phenomena began to affect the country's economy again and unemployment increased, the next parliamentary elections were held. The opposition NPM received an absolute majority of votes, but, thanks to the peculiarities of the electoral system, 34 of the 65 seats in the House of Representatives went to Labor. Nationalists demanded that the rules be changed and new general elections be held. They declared a temporary boycott of parliament and carried out a political strike, but were unsuccessful.
In 1983, a new wave of unrest broke out when the Maltese government tried to encourage the Catholic Church to allow free schooling. It decided to confiscate three-quarters of the church property, but the court overturned this decision as illegal. When parliament introduced a ban on tuition fees in 1984, the church closed its schools. More clashes followed, and in 1985 a compromise was reached: the church agreed to free secondary education in exchange for the state subsidizing half of the school costs.
In 1984, Mintoff was replaced as Prime Minister by Labor leader Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. He became famous for his work as a legal adviser to trade unions (from 1969), when he managed to prevent the adoption of a bill that provided for prison sentences for participating in strikes. But already in 1987, the opposition NPM won the next parliamentary elections, which advocated Malta’s entry into the EEC. The nationalist leader, lawyer Eduard Fenech Adami, became the country's Prime Minister. The 1992 elections brought him success again.
Malta at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries
Under the NPM government, Malta refocused on expanding ties with the West. In 1990 it applied to join the EU. In 1995 the country joined the NATO program Partnership for Peace while remaining a neutral state.
In December 1992 it was signed Joint Declaration of Friendship and Cooperation with Russia.
The state continued to finance an extensive system of social services - free education, medical care, pensions, etc. But the economy has undergone structural restructuring in accordance with EU standards. In 1992, a 20-year economic development plan was adopted, which provided for the transformation of the country into an international financial and trade center. There was economic growth, unemployment in the early 1990s did not exceed 3.5%. In 1995, the government introduced a 15% value added tax, which caused significant discontent among the population.
Malta's entry into the European Union was planned for 1999. However, this did not happen, as the NPM, despite the support of the church, was defeated in early parliamentary elections in October 1996. The LPM won, promising to turn Malta into the “Switzerland of the Mediterranean” and a free trade zone. The new Labor Prime Minister Alfred Sant, a former trade union leader, immediately announced the country's withdrawal from the NATO program Partnership for Peace, abolished value added tax and withdrew the country's request to join the EU.
The LPM had a minimal majority in parliament (35 out of 69 seats), and lost it in 1998. In the early elections in September, the opposition NPM was successful. With 51.8% of the vote, she won 35 of the 65 seats in the House of Representatives. The government was again headed by E. Fenech Adami. It confirmed the request for EU membership and reinstated the value added tax, citing the need to adapt to the economic structure of Europe, from which Malta expects generous financial assistance. In April 2003, the NPM won the general elections again.
In 2003, Malta held a referendum on joining the European Union. Despite opposition from Labor and the traditional way of life, the majority of the population approved of joining the European Union.
Malta is poor in natural resources; there are practically no minerals on the archipelago; Only limestone and table salt are mined here. Therefore, the republic’s economy is focused mainly on taking advantage of its geographical location at the crossroads of busy sea routes and the climatic advantages of the archipelago, which attract a large number of tourists. The colonial past also left its mark on Malta's economy. For more than a century and a half of domination in Malta, the British authorities completely subordinated the life of this and neighboring islands to their military-strategic interests, which led to the one-sided development of the Maltese economy. By the time the British left, agriculture and handicrafts, which had characterized the islands almost since the time of the Phoenicians, had fallen into decline. The main island of the archipelago was turned by the colonialists into a military fortress, its convenient natural harbors were used as naval bases where military ships of Great Britain and then other NATO countries were serviced and repaired, and military air bases were located in the most fertile valleys of Malta. The population was mainly occupied with servicing British military bases. A number of industries ceased to exist, in particular, cotton growing and the textile industry disappeared, the production of grain and olives fell sharply, and fishing declined.
The Labor government that emerged from the 1971 election victory set out to revive the stagnant economy. First of all, it undertook to revise the military and financial agreements with Great Britain and demanded from the British significant rent for the use of military installations in Malta. Every year for seven years, England pledged to pay the republic 14 million pounds. Art., which back in 1972 amounted to almost 1/4 of all foreign currency received by Malta. In an effort to get rid of the British military presence, the Labor government set the goal of achieving, first of all, economic independence from Great Britain. Labor considered the main ways to achieve this goal to be the industrialization of the country and the diversification of the economy, which constituted the main objectives of the seven-year plan for the socio-economic development of Malta, covering the period from 1974 to 1980. As the ultimate goal, the plan provided for achieving by 1979 a level of development that would make it possible to do without foreign rent payments.
One of the first steps towards creating an independent economy was the formation of a significant public sector, which began to own key positions. In particular, during this period, dry docks were expanded and transferred under workers' control, the largest banks and a number of foreign firms were nationalized, and state-owned industrial enterprises were created.
The country's largest plant is a ship repair plant, which employs over 5 thousand people. Ships from 15 countries are repaired here. While the capacity of other ship repair facilities on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea is often idle, the Maltese docks are busy all year round.
Near the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, at the initiative of the government, the construction of a large port has begun in order to turn Malta into a transshipment point for international trade in the Mediterranean Sea. The Labor government devotes considerable attention not only to industrial development, but also to strengthening the position of agriculture, and here again it acts mainly through the creation of state agricultural enterprises that develop new lands in order to eventually transfer them to the use of peasants united in cooperatives.
State economic policy for the first half of the 80s was determined by the five-year development plan (1981-1985). Priority was given to the construction of ship repair and shipyards, tourism, agriculture and fishing.
Another leading sector of Malta's economy is tourism, which has undergone significant development in recent years. If in 1972 about 150 thousand tourists visited Malta, then just nine years later 705.7 thousand people visited the country. Tourists to Malta are attracted by exceptionally favorable climatic conditions; beautiful beaches, warm sea, high level of service. One of the important factors can be considered the fact that Malta is located near Western European countries. Government policy also plays a major role in the development of tourism, directing large amounts of funds to this industry. Foreign investors also prefer to invest in the tourism industry because it pays off quickly.
The Maltese government has introduced a number of financial and tax incentives for foreign companies investing in the sphere of material production. In Malta, primary importance is attached to the search for oil with the help of foreign concerns. Exploration is carried out in the coastal and shelf areas of the archipelago. Oil lurking in the depths of the sea could change the fate of this island state, deprived of fuel and energy resources and in need of their export. In the mid-70s, a number of agreements were signed for oil exploration work off the southern coast of Malta. When issuing licenses for geological exploration, the government required companies that entered into contracts to provide large subsidies to finance the industrial development of the republic. The first oil agreement was concluded with the American company Texaco.
Speaking about the industry of Malta, it should be noted that in addition to the already mentioned shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises, there are car assembly and auto repair shops, metalworking plants, enterprises for the production of products from synthetic fibers, plastic, building materials, etc. Light industry sectors such as cotton, clothing, furniture, as well as the food industry, tobacco production and arts and crafts.
Malta is located in the central Mediterranean- a natural region with a characteristic subtropical climate and vegetation. The country's natural conditions are favorable for the development of agriculture, but there is a lack of suitable land and water for cultivation. Malta is poor in mineral resources. Only the reserves of building limestone are large and the possibilities for extracting salt and other substances from sea water are large. At the same time, in terms of climatic resources - in terms of the abundance of warmth and light, Malta is not inferior to the best resorts of many southern countries.
Malta is characterized by island fragmentation. There are 5 islands in total. Three of them - Malta, Komino and Gozo - are stretched in a chain from northwest to southeast. a width of 75 km separates these islands from Sicily, and between Malta and the coast of Africa stretches the wide (about 200 km) southern part of the Strait of Tunisia with a group of Pelagie Islands.
Islands of the Maltese archipelago of mainland origin. They are high sections of an underwater threshold raised above sea level, stretching from the island of Sicily. These are low (up to 253 m) plateaus, composed mainly of Oligocene and Miocene horizontally occurring limestones. The shores of the islands in the north are steep and steep, in the south they are usually flatter.
From the sea the islands appear almost completely flat. But up close, their karst areas look more diverse. Gentle slopes alternate with shallow valleys and ledges. In some places there are karst and other karst landforms.
Malta has dry, sunny summers and warm winters with fairly frequent rain and winds. The average annual precipitation is about 500 mm; from April to September it is warm and cloudless with average daily temperatures of about 20°. The summer heat is somewhat moderated by winds from the sea, but still during the day it often reaches 25-30°C, and the nights are cooler. Not every winter occurs; 10-15° prevails; rarely it drops to 5°C. From October to October it rains, but monthly precipitation is no more than 80-90 mm.
Malta's climatic resources are very large. There are no days with an average temperature below 10°, and the annual temperature is 6500°. However, precipitation is insufficient for rain-fed cultivation of crops.
Lack of water- an important feature of the natural conditions of Malta. There are no permanent rivers on the islands, and the scanty precipitation that falls quickly evaporates or goes into karst voids. often salted, although they are quite widely used for drinking and other household needs; Residents collect rainwater in various containers. But all the water is not enough, and it is even brought to Malta from the island of Sicily.
Soil intermittent. They predominate with a lumpy structure and heavy mechanical composition. In some places, similar soils, but reddish in color, are formed on the red weathering crust of limestone - terra rossa. There are few areas with well-developed soil cover; in large areas, rocky soil comes to the surface. They say that due to a lack of soil, the Maltese in the old days took a duty from foreign ships that entered their bays with land that they brought from the mainland.
The vegetation of Malta has been dramatically altered by humans over the millennia. From the sea, the islands appear bare, and only closer one can see some diversity in the generally rather sparse vegetation cover. The flat areas of the plateau are cultivated, while the slopes are dominated by rocky wastelands with low, dry-loving shrubs and shrubs; in open areas - rare, mainly from cereals; often it doesn't work out. There are isolated groves of pine trees. In populated areas, in some places you can see groups of pine trees and hard-leaved oaks characteristic of the Mediterranean. On the boundaries and near the stone fences dividing the fields there are many prickly cacti and prickly pears, often forming hedges.
Among the local vegetation, as throughout the Mediterranean, there are many species that are used in pharmaceutical and perfume production. This is, for example,
Britain formally acquired ownership of Malta in 1814.
Until 1964 Malta was part of Great Britain.
A decade later, Malta became a republic. Since the mid-1980s, the island has become a cargo transhipment point, a financial center, and a tourist mecca. Malta became a member of the EU in May 2004 and began using the euro as its currency in 2008.
Geography of Malta
Location:
Southern Europe, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographical coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Territory:
total area: 316 sq. km
country's place in the world: 207
land: 316 sq. km
water: 0 sq. km
Land borders:
0 km
Coastline:
196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km of Gozo)
Climate:
Mediterranean; moderate, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Landscape:
mostly lowland, rocky coast sloping down to the plains; many coastal cliffs
Critical points:
Critical points: Mediterranean Sea 0 m.
highest point: Te "Dmejrek 253 m. (near Dingli)
Natural resources:
limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 31.25%
Permanent grain crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq. km (2003)
Freshwater renewable resources:
0.07 cu. km (2005)
Freshwater (inland/industrial/agricultural) use:
total quantity: 0.02 cu. km/ respectively (74%/1%/25%)
per capita: 50 cubic meters m./ (2000)
Geography - note:
the country includes an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Godex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) which are all inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbours; Malta and Tunisia are discussing commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, especially for oil exploration
Demographics of Malta
Population :
405,165 (July 2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 173
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 33,526/female 31,780)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 142,491/female 138,769)
65 years and older: 14.5% (male 25,406/female 33,193) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.5 years
male: 38.1 years
female: 40.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 163
Fertility rate:
10.36 population births/1,000 (2009 est.)
Country's place in the world: 189
Immigration of the population:
2.02 migrants/1,000 population (2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 42
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
urbanization growth: 0.6% annual rate (2005)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 males/female
less than 15 years: 1.06 men/woman
15-64 years: 1.03 men/woman
65 years and over: 0.76 men/woman
Of total population: 0.99 males/female (2009 est.)
Lifespan :
Of total population: 79.44 years
Country's place in the world: 29
men: 77.21 years
women: 81.8 years (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - prevalence among adults:
0.1% (2007 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2007 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 136
Ethnic groups:
Residents of Malta (descendants of the ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong dialects of Italian and other Mediterranean dialects)
Religions:
Catholics 98%
Languages:
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
Education expenses:
5.1% of GDP (2004)
Country's place in the world: 64
Government of Malta
The name of the country: Republic of Malta
Type of government:
Republic
Capital: Valletta
geographical coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
Administrative districts:
No
Independence:
National holiday:
Independence Day, September 21 (1964); Republic Day, December 13 (1974)
Constitution:
1964; fixed many times
Executive branch:
head of state: President George ABELA (since April 4, 2009)
head of the government : Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
cabinet:The Cabinet is appointed by the President on the proposal of the Prime Minister
Legislature:
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation, for five-year terms)
elections: last held on March 8, 2008 (next in March 2013)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court;
Court of First Instance;
Court of Appeal
note: judges for courts are appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
Economy of Malta
Economics - a quick overview:
Malta produces about 20% of its food needs, suffers from a large shortage of fresh water, and has few domestic sources of energy.
Malta's geographical location between the EU and Africa creates a problem of illegal immigration.
Malta depends on foreign trade, primarily on the sale of electronics and pharmaceuticals, tourism plays a large role in GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.831 billion (2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 149
$10.05 billion (2008 estimate)
$9.823 billion (2007 estimate)
GDP (at official exchange rate):
$7.805 billion (2009 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 148
2.1% (2008 estimate)
4% (2007 estimate)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,800 (est. 2009)
Country's place in the world: 54
$24,900 (est. 2008)
$24,400 (est. 2007)
GDP - composition of sectors:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 17.4%
services: 80.9% (2007 estimate)
Work force :
175,000 (2008 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 176
Labor force - by sector composition:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 22.8%
services: 75.6% (2009 estimate)
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 66
6.3 % (2008)
Budget:
revenues: $4.119 billion
expenses: $3.736 billion (2009 estimate)
State debt:
67% of GDP 63.8% of GDP (2008 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 24
Country's place in the world: 136
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus fruits, flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industry - manufactured products:
tourism, electronics, shipbuilding and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, air travel services, financial services, information technology services
Electricity - production:
2.146 billion kWh (2007 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 131
Electricity - consumption:
1.832 billion kWh (2007 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 136
Country's place in the world: 162
Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2008 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 128
Oil - export:
0 bbl/day (2009 estimate)
Country's place in the world: 184
Oil - import:
0 cu. m. (est. 2009)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu. m. (est. 2009)
Country's place in the world: 150
Natural gas - export:
0 cu. m. (est. 2009)
Natural gas - import:
0 cu. m. (est. 2009)
Natural gas - proven reserves:
Country's place in the world: 157
