Morning Briefing
Roberta Metsola signals intention to remain at EP
Roberta Metsola has signaled she intends to remain in her current tpsot, saying she has a responsibility at the European Parliament, in her first comments since Bernard Grech announced his resignation as PN leader.Asked by Politico if she planned to leave her role as European Parliament President and return to Maltese politics, Metsola replied: “I have a responsibility here.” Metsola is widely seen as the PN’s preferred successor to Grech, consistently polling as the most popular potential party leader. Grech, who confirmed her broad respect within the party, declined to say whether he had consulted Metsola before stepping down. The PN’s executive committee will meet Wednesday evening to begin discussions on the leadership race, with the new leader to be elected b yall party members. (Times of Malta)
Counterfeit alcohol costing businesses €2m yearly
Malta is losing around €2 million each year in wine and spirits sales due to counterfeit products, according to new data from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The figures, released as part of the EUIPO’s What’s on your table? campaign, show that nearly 5% of legitimate alcohol sales in Malta are lost to fakes—mirroring a wider EU trend. Across the bloc, counterfeit wines and spirits cause annual losses of €2.29 billion and nearly 5,700 job cuts. While Malta’s losses are smaller than those in countries like Spain or France, the economic impact is significant for the island. The report also notes that wine and spirits are among the hardest-hit product categories by counterfeiting. (Newsbook)
FTS says EUR2m invested in sports projects across Malta’s schools
Between 2024 and 2025, the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS) implemented a series of embellishment projects in sports and recreational areas across various schools and child care centres. According to a statement, around €2 million was invested over this period. In 2024 alone, upgrades were carried out in 7 Colleges and 8 child care centres. During the first half of 2025, the initiative extended to 8 more Colleges in both Malta and Gozo. The school projects were carried out in collaboration with the Ministry’s Department of Infrastructure and Logistics, while work at the child care centres was coordinated with the Foundation for Educational Services. (TVM)