Peer review report: Malta 2016

This peer review of disaster risk management and civil protection systems provides Malta with a unique opportunity to reflect on its readiness to cope with natural hazards and human-induced disasters and to identify ways of strengthening its prevention and preparedness policy and practices. It also facilitates the exchange of good practices. The peer review programme is a tool made available to civil protection authorities of Member States, participating states, enlargement and neighborhood countries under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism legislation. It is managed by the Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department.

The peer review of Malta's disaster risk management (DRM) and civil protection systems highlights its progress in developing a national risk assessment (NRA) and implementing a coordinated approach to crisis management. Key strengths include robust cross-sector collaboration, a structured risk management framework, and the recent establishment of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Directorate (CIPD). To further enhance Malta's resilience, the report recommends formalizing stakeholder engagement in a national disaster risk platform, expanding risk assessment to include complex and cross-border hazards, and developing a national data-sharing infrastructure. Strengthening risk communication, financial planning, and international partnerships are also suggested to optimize response capabilities and ensure sustainable, long-term disaster preparedness.