---
title: "Malta Opposes EU Taxation as European Council President António Costa Visits"
date: 2026-09-10T14:00:33.635+00:00
updated: 2026-09-11T08:01:35.658+00:00
topics: ["Politics", "National", "EU"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-09-10/malta-opposes-eu-taxation-as-european-council-president-antonio-costa-visits
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Malta Opposes EU Taxation as European Council President António Costa Visits

## In brief

- European Council President António Costa arrived in Malta on Thursday for high-level discussions with Prime Minister Robert Abela.
- Malta formed the fourteenth stop on Costa's tour of member capitals ahead of upcoming European Council meetings.
- Abela made clear during the bilateral talks that Malta will not support proposed European Union taxation measures.

European Council President António Costa arrived in Malta on Thursday for official talks with Prime Minister Robert Abela at Castille, as part of an ongoing consultative tour across the European Union.

Costa was welcomed at the Office of the Prime Minister in Valletta by an Armed Forces of Malta band and military honours before heading into private discussions with the Maltese head of government.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Abela reaffirmed Malta's opposition to European Union taxation proposals, confirming that the country will not back initiatives aimed at harmonising tax policy across member states.

The Maltese government has consistently maintained that direct taxation must remain strictly a matter of national competence, arguing that domestic fiscal discretion is vital for small island economies on the European periphery.

Costa highlighted the importance of European cohesion during his visit, noting that unity among member states cannot simply be taken for granted amid differing national priorities and interests.

Malta marks the fourteenth country visited by Costa since late August under his "Tour des Capitales" initiative, which has taken him to thirteen other member states in recent weeks.

The diplomatic tour is intended to gather the views and priorities of national leaders first-hand, laying the groundwork for strategic priorities and upcoming European Council negotiations.

## The Spin Room

**Medium media divide.** Both outlets agreed on the factual details of the visit, but Newsbook foregrounded Malta's refusal to back EU tax harmonisation while The Maltese Herald focused on the diplomatic itinerary of the European tour.

- **Newsbook:** Emphasised Robert Abela's rejection of EU taxation proposals and António Costa's comments that European unity cannot be taken for granted.
- **The Maltese Herald:** Focused on the broader institutional purpose of António Costa's tour across member capitals to prepare the ground for European Council summits.

## Updates

- **2026-09-11:** Updated with reporting from MaltaToday and The Malta Independent: Prime Minister Robert Abela designated EU-level taxation as a red line for negotiations on the 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework.

## Sources (4)

- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/10/european-council-president-antonio-costa-arrives-in-malta-on-tour-des-capitales/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/abela-tells-costa-malta-will-not-back-eu-taxation/)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-10/local-news/Abela-says-Malta-cannot-support-EU-taxation-as-2028-2034-budget-talks-begin-6736292798)
- [MaltaToday](https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/144296/european_council_president_antonio_costa_visits_malta_to_discuss_european_budget_1)

## More stories

- [Malta Defends EU Foreign Policy Consensus Voting to Protect Equal Voice](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-09-06/malta-defends-eu-foreign-policy-consensus-voting) (2026-09-06)
- [Roberta Metsola Pens Tribute to Daphne Caruana Galizia After Verdict](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-09-03/roberta-metsola-pens-tribute-to-daphne-caruana-galizia-after-verdict) (2026-09-03)
- [Minister Fearne Discusses Migration and EU Policy on Al Jazeera](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-08-17/minister-fearne-migration-eu-al-jazeera) (2026-08-17)

---

Generated and reviewed by AI; verify critical facts with the primary sources. When citing, link readers to the canonical article: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-09-10/malta-opposes-eu-taxation-as-european-council-president-antonio-costa-visits