Malta entrusted by the CHOGM to serve on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group for the coming two years

The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, have entrusted Malta to serve on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), for the third time since it’s inception in 1995.

The Action Group seeks to assess and support the upholding of fundamental Commonwealth values, including peace, democracy, separation of powers, rule of law and human rights. Malta had already been appointed to serve on the CMAG for the periods of 2005-2007 and 2015-2017, by virtue of being the Chair in Office, in 2005 and 2015, respectively. This time round, the CHOGM felt it opportune to ask Malta to serve on the CMAG, as a champion of the values upon which such an association had been founded.

The overarching theme for CHOGM 2022 was that of ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’. There were three main themes on the agenda of the Foreign Ministries and the Heads of State. With reference to ‘Peace, Democracy and Good Governance’, Malta showed it’s commitment to participate on the CMAG. In relation to post-Covid19 recovery, the Maltese delegation argued that no country can be unprepared for the next potential health threat, and that specific initiatives, such as the “WHO/Europe Small Countries” initiative, which agreed on a roadmap for better health in small European states, should be replicated across other regions. Regarding sustainability, Malta called for more support to be given to small states, so as to address their climate related challenges, particularly sea level rise, along with food security and access to finance.

The heads of state also agreed to extend the term of the current Secretary General Patricia Scotland for a further two-year period, after she had been elected to serve in the role at the CHOGM held in Valletta in 2015. Malta looks forward to continuing to work with her, as well as the rest of the Commonwealth States, in promoting the fundamental values of the Commonwealth.