TITLE: European Commission Endorses Malta's €60 Million Social Climate Plan for Fair Clean Transition
BODY:
On July 28, 2026, the European Commission endorsed Malta's Social Climate Plan, the fourth national plan adopted under the Social Climate Fund (SCF). Malta's plan will mobilise €60.6 million until 2032, comprising €45.4 million from the European Union and at least 25 percent in contributions from Malta.
The SCF, operating from 2026 to 2032, provides financial support to EU Member States to finance measures and investments identified in their national Social Climate Plans, ensuring the clean transition is fair and inclusive. The Fund is expected to mobilise at least €86.7 billion, combining revenues from the new emissions trading system for fuel combustion in buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2), as well as Member States' contributions.
Malta's plan addresses energy poverty and vulnerable populations through several key measures. It will help vulnerable households improve energy efficiency of their homes and renovate apartments in public social housing buildings through roof insulation and installation of renewable energy systems, including heat pump water heaters and photovoltaic systems with battery storage. The plan will expand sustainable transport options for more than 30,000 vulnerable transport users through door-to-door community transport services. Additionally, it will support vulnerable micro-enterprises in transport-dependent sectors by improving access to affordable electric mobility and charging infrastructure, facilitating their transition to electric vehicles. From 2026 to 2032, these measures are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Eight Member States have formally submitted their Social Climate Plans to date: Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia, and Slovenia. Sweden's plan was the first adopted, followed by Lithuania and Latvia. Malta will be able to request its first payment to the Commission once implementation has started and initial investment results have been achieved.