Malta Sociological Association

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) supports effective and harmonised national registers of packaging producers as an important mechanism for strengthening Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Producer responsibility should remain central to EU packaging policy.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) welcomes the development of the Gender Action Plan IV and supports the EUs commitment to gender equality in its external action. The MSA recommends the systematic integration of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) within GAP IV.

The Malta Sociological Association welcomes this initiative, particularly with respect to the inclusion of impact assessment. In this regard, we believe that that Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) should be incorporated and mainstream in this policy process. SIAs should not be one-off exercises.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the European Commission's initiative to develop a European Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy and recognises its importance in supporting sustainable, resilient and evidence-informed ocean governance.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the proposed Quality Jobs Act and supports a comprehensive understanding of job quality that goes beyond employment rates and productivity to include decent pay and conditions, employment security, work-life balance, occupational health and safety, opportunities for development, social protection and workers' voice.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the European Commission's proposal to update the minimum training requirements and duration of specialist training for specialist doctors and midwives under the Professional Qualifications Directive. These amendments represent an important step towards facilitating the automatic recognition of professional qualifications across the European Union.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the European Commission's initiative to identify opportunities for simplification, better implementation, and the reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens affecting citizens. The MSA emphasizes that efforts to streamline legislation and public administration should be informed by robust Social Impact Assessment (SIA).

The Malta Sociological Association welcomes this initiative, which aims to address the specific needs of bus and coach drivers in organising their working time. In this regard, the MSA believes that a social impact assessment, conforming to guidelines such as those of the International Association for Impact Assessment, should be employed to ensure decent and equitable job conditions and services.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the development of technical requirements for HealthData@EU and recognises the potential value of secure health data for research, evidence-informed policymaking and improved health systems. Given the sensitivity of health data, implementation should place public trust, privacy, transparency and accountability at its centre.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the proposed update to the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities and recognises its importance in promoting environmentally sound and safe ship recycling across the European Union.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the European Commission's initiative to simplify the implementation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and to transpose the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies into EU law. While reducing unnecessary administrative burdens is important, regulatory simplification should not overlook the social dimensions of fisheries and maritime policy.

Malta operates with a relatively integrated personal identity infrastructure, including universal personal identification numbers used across government departments throughout individuals lifetimes. This may facilitate cross-border data sharing and implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the European Commission's orientations for sustainable fishing in 2027 and emphasizes that fisheries sustainability should integrate environmental, social and economic dimensions. Particular attention should be given to small-scale and artisanal fishers and coastal communities, including in small island states such as Malta.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) welcomes this initiative, particularly due to its consideration of the social dimension. In this regard, the MSA is proposing that Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) should be incorporated and mainstream in this policy process. SIAs should not be one-off exercises.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the evaluation of the EU Recommendation on Individual Learning Accounts and the importance of reskilling, upskilling and lifelong learning in the context of changing labour markets, including the digital and green transitions. The MSA recommends that the evaluation explicitly incorporate Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and a social rights perspective.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the evaluation of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) for 20222026 and recognises their important contribution to evidence-informed environmental policymaking. The MSA recommends strengthening the social dimension of environmental information and monitoring.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the European Commission's initiative on financial compensation under the EU Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2), recognising its importance in supporting a fair and socially just transition to climate neutrality.

The Malta Sociological Association welcomes this initiative, which aims to gather feedback from stakeholders in the fishing sector. In this regard, the MSA would like to comment on the social dimension of this policy area. In this regard, the MSA believes that a social impact assessment, conforming to guidelines such as those of the International Association for Impact Assessment, should be employed.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the proposed update to the list of neighbouring container transhipment ports under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and supports measures that safeguard the environmental integrity of the ETS while ensuring fair competition across the maritime sector.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the proposed update to the list of neighbouring container transhipment ports under the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and supports measures that safeguard the environmental integrity of the Regulation while ensuring fair competition across the maritime sector.

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the preparation of the Waste Early Warning Report 2027 and emphasises that progress towards EU waste targets should be assessed through social as well as environmental and economic perspectives.