Malta elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council

After Malta’s election to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (Category C) last December, Malta has successfully been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The vote took place on 13 June in a round of byelections held in New York. Malta garnered 100% of the votes, and will serve in this position for two years from January 2019.

The ECOSOC advances the three dimensions of the UN’s work on sustainable development; economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking in these areas, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. And with the security of the Mediterranean being one of Malta’s main foreign policy priorities, Malta will contest the 2022 UN Security Council elections. If successful, Malta will return to the Council as non-permanent members for the 2023-2024 term, after a 40-year absence, sitting together with 14 UN Member States.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela welcomed the result, and reiterated Malta’s commitment to contribute to furthering the values the United Nations stands for: “As a country highly committed to the objectives and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Malta looks forward to continuing to work together with other countries serving on the ECOSOC for the best interest of the whole international community.”