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challenges related to climate, the digital transition, health, employment, education, skills, social policies, justice, taxation, the fight against corruption, and the fight against money laundering, and the implementation of Malta's recovery and resilience plan is well underway

With 54% of the RRP's total allocation dedicated to climate and environmental objectives, Malta's plan includes several measures that support the green transition

Although Malta does not import oil or gas from Russia, fossil fuels still play an outsized role in Malta's economy, making its energy mix highly dependent on energy imports. It has one of the EU's lowest shares of renewables in energy consumption

There continues to be traffic congestion on the island, high emissions from road transport, and a high reliance on private cars. Private cars are used for 84% of all trips, and in 2022 Malta's licensed motor-vehicle stock reached 817 vehicles per 1 000 persons, with only a tiny proportion of these being zero emissions

In the long run, concerning health, the EC predicts that public spending in this sector and long-term care expects to increase. Poverty indicators in Malta are below the EU average but remain high for specific disadvantaged groups

Malta are very lengthy Administrative cases at first instance in Malta are estimated to take the longest time to be resolved of any country in the EU

Although Malta performs well on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), environmental sustainability and inequalities remain

Regarding energy-policy response, the EC said that Malta took significant measures to mitigate the impact of energy-price hikes and support households and businesses Malta has adopted various support measures to cushion the impact of energyprice inflation on homes and businesses

Other points dealt with in the EC report include Malta's gas supply It said it has a high level of security for its gas supply, with a predictable medium-term contract for the delivery of liquefied natural gas, and it is aiming to build a gas interconnection pipeline with Italy

As to Malta's Recovery and Resilience Plan, RRP, Malta aims to address the key

According to the European Commission, the Government's intervention to keep energy prices stable must end by the end of this year to reduce its deficit, and it recommends that financial aid from European funds be used for projects to increase the digital and environmental goals

Specific recommendations proposed for Malta by the European Commission for the next two years include reducing the country's dependence on polluting fuels by using more renewable energy.

The report states that Malta plans to carry out 30 reforms and 17 projects with a grant of €258 million from the recovery and resilience plan as agreed between the Maltese Government and the European Commission

The proposed measures have started being carried out in these areas; in fact, the European Commission has paid the first instalment of just over €52 million and is continuing to pave the way to reach the other goals established in this same plan