When Germany began its six-month presidency of the European Council, on 1 July 2020, the European Union was reeling from the covid-19 pandemic, the worst economic crisis since the second world war, and a series of preceding challenges such as Brexit, a lack of common ground on migration and asylum policy, and disputes over the bloc’s seven-year budget. With European health systems and economies under intense pressure, the Council presidency was a crucial intermediary in promoting smooth, efficient cooperation between member states. Berlin responded by coming up with an ambitious agenda that covered not only these issues but also a range of other policy areas: digital sovereignty, financial market stability, sustainable growth, and social and economic equality. One might ask whether any member state other than Germany could have coped with all these challenges.
The European Council on Foreign Relations’ Coalition Explorer provides indispensable insight into how the government of Malta navigates the wider European constellation of foreign partners and policy areas. The survey records the views of policy professionals across the European Union – and the latest data show that Malta leads a lonely existence, as one of the states that other EU members are least likely to get in touch with to discuss emerging issues. Policymakers across Europe suggest that Malta is also one of the least responsive member states when they do get in touch with it. Meanwhile, the government of Malta has become disaffected by a lack of European solidarity on migration and the coronavirus pandemic, and is increasingly critical of the EU. It has been turning to its bilateral relations – often with countries outside Europe – and pursuing unilateral action to achieve its policy goals.