Malta minerals. Malta and Gozo at a glance
MALTA, Republic of Malta is an island state in Southern Europe.
General information
Located in the central part of the Middle Sea, on the Maltese ar-hi-pe-la-ge, 93 km from the Italian island of Si-tsi -lia and 230 km from the northern coast of Africa (Tu-nis). Area 316 km2. Population 413 thousand people (2010). Sto-li-tsa - Val-let-ta. The official languages are Maltese and English. The monetary unit is the euro (since January 1, 2008). In the administrative region of the country, there are 68 districts (of which 54 are on the island of Malta, 14 on the island of Go- tso).
Malta is a member of the UN (1964), CoE (1965), IMF (1968), OSCE (1973), IBRD (1983), WTO (1995), EU (2004).
Political system
Malta is a unitary state. Constitution pri-nya 21.9.1964. Form of government - par-la-ment-skaya re-pub-li-ka.
The head of state is the president. The President of Malta on-knows-the-re-zo-lu-tsi-ey Pa-la-you pre-sta-vi-te-lei for 5 years. Kan-di-dat must be a gra-zh-da-ni-nom of Malta and ob-la-give from-bi-ra-tel-ny-mi kva-li-fi-ka-tsiya-mi, us- ta-nov-len-ny-mi Kon-sti-tu-tsi-ey.
The highest body of legislative power is one-pa-lat-ny par-la-ment (Pa-la-ta pre-sta-vi-te-lei), because bi-rae-my na-se-le-ni-em for 5 years on the basis of the pro-por-tsio-nal-no-go pre-sta-vi-tel-st-va. The number of seats is odd (usually 65, after the 2008 elections - 69 de-pu-ta-tov); if the par-tia, having won the vy-bo-rah, does not receive pain-shin-st-va in the par-la-men-those, she is pre-qualified tav-la-yut-sya to-pol-nit. place
Is-pol-nit. power lies over the pre-zi-den-tu. He implements it both indirectly and through the persons in charge of him. The pra-vi-tel-st-vo (Ka-bi-net) consists of the prime minister-mi-ni-st-ra and mi-ni-st-ra. The Prime Minister na-knows-cha-et-sya pre-zi-den-tom from the number of de-pu-ta-tov Pa-la-you before-sta-vi-te-lei (as pra-vi-lo, leader of the par-la-ment-sko-go-shin-st-va), mi-ni-st-ry on-cha-t-sya by “co-ve-tu” pre-mi-ni-st-ra.” Ka-bi-net implements general governance and control over the authorities of Malta and does not have a collective vet-st-ven-nost for this before par-la-men-tom.
In the Republic of Malta there is a multi-party system. Leading political parties - Lei-bo-ri-st-skaya party of Mal-ty, National-tsio-na-li-stic party.
Nature
Relief.
Malta is located on 2 large islands (Malta, 246 km2; Go-tso, 67 km2) and numerous small ones (Ko-mi-no , 2.7 km2; Ko-mi-not-to, Fil-fla and others) island-ro-vah. The length of the coastal line of the island of Malta is 136 km; the southern and southwestern coastlines are steep and ridged with numerous grottoes, live-written from the west-nya-ko- you-mi ute-sa-mi, northern and se-ve-ro-east-exact - more from-re-zan-nye, with convenient-mi-va-nya-mi (for example, Mel-li-kha bay), low-lying and flat. The surface of the islands has a general slope from southwest to northeast. In the relief, there are pre-ob-la-da-yut behind the car-sto-van wavy plateaus (height up to 253 m on the island of Malta - the highest in the country -not), weakly-divided-to-li-on-mi temporary waters (the so-called su-hi-mi rus-la-mi).
Geo-logical structure and useful resources.
The island of the Maltese ar-hi-pe-la-ga na-ho-dyatsya in the northeastern parts of the Maltese-Pe-lag-plate to -Kem-Bri-Af-ri-Can-platform-form. The complexities are predominantly oli-go-tse-no-you-mi and myo-tse-no-you-mi almost go-ri-zon-tal-but behind-ly-gayu-schi-mi from-vest-nya-ka-mi (the most shi-ro-ko races-about-countries glo-bi-ge-ri-no-new from-vest-nya-ki) and go -lu-would-mi gli-na-mi with pro-layers of phos-fo-ri-tov and glau-ko-ni-ta. places . There are places of building stones.
Climate.
Malta has a mid-sea climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Average temperatures in February are 12 °C, in August 26 °C. Precipitation is about 550 mm per year; they appear in the form of intense, non-prolonged downpours, mainly from October to February. The nature of the high inter-year change in the amount of precipitation.
Inland waters.
Malta has an acute de-fi-cit of water resources. Rus-la of temporary water-to-cows is filled with water for a very short-term period, to hold-up until-de-de- the howl of water and the prevention of erosion in the construction of over 30 small dams. Depletion of underground water resources, which play an important role in the country’s water supply, and their reduction -whether due to pollution of nit-ra-ta-mi and for-so-le-tion is one of the main environmental problems of Malta. About 60% of the water consumed annually comes from sea water. Most of the water consumed is used for communal water supply and agricultural needs. yes.
Soil, plant and living world.
On the territory of Malta, the government dominates an-tro-po-gen-but mo-di-fi-tsi-ro-van-nye landscapes, about 3/4 of the territory ri-to-rii for-ni-ma-yut ur-ba-ni-zi-ro-van-nye lands and agricultural land. In the soil-vein there are pre-ob-la-da-trees-in-car-bo-nut-and red-colored brown-not-green soils. you (ter-ra ros-sa). Shi-ro-ko raz-vi-you an-tro-po-gen-but pre-ob-ra-zo-van-nye soils (ag-ro-ze-we and ur-ba-no-ze- We). The natural plant species is represented by the secondary low-tree-weight and the bush-tar-no-ko- you-mi for-ma-tsiya-mi ma-k-vi-sa (oli-va Ev-ro-pei-skaya, fis-tash-ki, roz-ko-voe de-re-vo) and ga-ri -gi (tim-yang go-lov-cha-ty, eri-ka many-color-ko-vaya, mo-lo-teas, including en-de-mich-ny Mal-ti mo- lo-tea), as well as teaching the dry, evil steppes. Their own plant groups of coastal rivers with an abundance of narrow en-de-mich species of color-co-plants. The flora contains about 1000 species of higher races, including over 20 en-de-mi-kov. About 1/5 of the plants of Malta are on-me-ren-but or accidentally in-tro-du-tsi-ro-van-ny-mi.
There are over 20 species of mammals (mostly hand-winged and something-different), 30 species of nests living birds (including the blue rock thrush), 18 species of beautiful birds (Maltese wall lizard, eye-cha -th chal-tsid and others), 1 type of earth-water (dis-koya-zych-naya la-gush-ka). On-earth o-ra-nya-my natural ter-ri-to-rii (natural-reserves, or-ni-logical orders -ni-ki and others) occupy 13% of the country's area (mainly along the southern and southwestern shores of the island of Malta); The area of the protected marine aquariums is 11 km2 (2007). To the water-lands of international significance from the Ga-di-ra and Is-Si-ram. Most of the protected areas of Malta are included in the general European environmental networks “Pri-ro-da-2000” " and "Emerald".
Additional literature:
Spiteri Staines E. Aspects of water problems in the Maltese Islands // Groundwater economics. Amst.; Oxf., 1989;
Schem-bri P.-J. Malta’s Natural heritage // Malta culture and identity. Malta, 1994.
Population
The main population of Malta is the Maltese (96.5%, 2007), the English also live (about 2%), the St-ra-liy-tsy (about 1%), Italian-yang-tsy (about 0.3%). The population size increases annually by an average of 0.6-0.7% (mid-2000s). The birth rate is decreasing (10.0 per 1000 inhabitants in 2008; 12.4 in 1995), the mortality rate is practically sta-bi-len (with-from-vet-st-ven-but 7.6 and 7.3). By-ka-za-tel fer-til-no-sti 1.5 children per 1 woman; infant mortality rate is 3.7 per 1000 live-days. In the age structure of the village, the share of children (up to 15 years) is 15.7%, people working no-age (15-64 years) - 68.5%, persons over 65 years old - 15.8% (2010). Average life expectancy is not higher than the average for EU countries (men - 77.4 years, women - 82 ,1 year). For every 100 women, there are 99 men.
The average density of the village is very high (1307 people/km2; one of the highest in the world). About 91% of the population lives on the island of Mal-ta, where the hundred-person district of Val-let-you and the coastal region are most densely located behind the villages -naya on-lo-sa to the west and east from it (borders between the se-len-ny-mi points-ta-mi- construction is being done due to the expansion of villages and the emergence of new ones on the previously unbuilt -nyh ter-ri-to-ri-yah); The western and southern parts of the island are less dense. Urban population 95% (2010). Largest cities (thousands of people, 2010): Bir-kir-ka-ra 20.7, Mosta 19.3, San-Pa-ul-il-Ba-har 17.4, Kor-mi 15.7 (all on the island of Malta).
There are 167.3 thousand people in the economy, of which 72.8% are in the service sector, 17.4% in industry, and construction - 7.2%, in agriculture, forestry and fishing - 2.6% (2007). The unemployment rate is 6.1% (2010).
Religion
About 97% of the population of Malta are ka-li-ki, about 1% are pre-sta-vi-te-li pro-tes-tant de-no-mi-na-tions (Eng-li-ka- no, me-to-di-sty, pre-svi-te-ria-ne, ad-ven-ti-sty of the seventh day and others); believers of women of other denominations of small numbers (2006, est.).
The origin of the spread of Christianity in Malta dates back to the 1st century and is connected, as it is believed , with the activity of the Apostle Paul, who endured a co-slave-le-wreck off the shores of Malta on the way to Rome (De- Jan 27:27 - 28:10). According to tradition, Saint Publius became the first bishop of Malta, having received baptism from the Apostle Paul. The day of the co-slavery and arrival of the Apostle Paul in Malta (February 10) is the national holiday of Malta.
According to the Constitution of 1964, kato-li-cism has the status of a state religion. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Roman Church was represented by 1 mi-tro-po-li-ey and 1 dio-ce-z. There are 2 right-glorious parishes: 1 - in the jurisdiction of the Konstantin-Polish right-glorious church , 1 - Russian Orthodox Church (established in 2003).
Is-to-ri-che-sky essay
Malta from ancient times until 1800.
Malta was behind-the-se-le-na around the 5th millennium BC. Numerous mega-cultural cultural buildings have been preserved (one of the oldest in Europe), including in Mnaid -re and Tar-shi-ne to the islands of Mal-ta and Jgan-tiya on the island of Go-tso, yes-ti-rue-my about 3500 - about 2500 BC. Around 2000, the islands were deprived, most likely, as a result of the epidemic or environmental crisis -ugh. New villagers, who knew copper and bronze, came to Malta several hundred years later from Sicily and Southern Italy. Not later than the 8th century BC, the fi-niki-tsy settled in Malta, sub-studying the local na-se-le-nie. From the 6th century BC, Malta was controlled by Kar-fa-gen. In 218 BC, during the 2nd Punic War (see the article Pu-nic wars), the island was captured by the Romans , subsequently subjected to significant growth. In the 2nd century AD Malta po-lu-chi-la sta-tus mu-ni-tsi-piya.
At the beginning of the Christianity of Malta from the 1st century (it is believed that Malta was founded by the apostle Pavel), -sti-an-skie communities for-fi-si-ro-va-ny since the 4th century. In the V-VI centuries, Malta, apparently, served as a naval base for the Van-da-lovs. In the years 533-535, it became part of Byzantium and was used as a place of exile for disgraced sanitaries. In 870, the Maltese ar-hi-pe-lag was za-voe-van ara-ba-mi, part of the Christian-an-sko-go on-se-le-niya you-ve-ze- on the territory of modern Tu-ni-sa and on Si-tsi-lia. The city of Mdi-na (Me-di-na) became the capital of Malta.
In 1091, the islands of Mal-ta and Go-tso were captured by Count Rodger I of Sicily, in 1127 they were conquered but they became part of the Si-ci-liy-sko-go-ro-lion-st-va. The Muslim island on the island was about the same, but it was heavy, in the 1240s on strong-st-ven -but baptismally (from the time of the Mother of Christ you were sent to Southern Italy). In 1191, the king of Sicily Tan-cred (1190-1194) transferred Malta to the fief of one of his ad-mi-ra-lovs, ge-nu-ez -tsu Mar-ga-ri-to di Brin-di-zi, po-lu-chiv-she-mu ti-tul Count of Malta. Subsequently, Sicily returned Malta to its domain more than once (finally in 1350), then again Yes-ri-li-bo about-da-va-li your ad-mi-ra-lam or ba-ro-nam and this ti-tul, and the people associated with it. -chiya and do-ho-dy.
As part of the Si-ci-liy-sko-go-lion-st-va Malta in 1194 fell under the rule of the Stau-fen, in 1266 - Charles I of An-jui-sko-go , in 1283 - Aragon di-na-stiya. In the XIV-XV centuries, there was a very strong Katalan influence in Malta. In 1398, the administration of Malta was re-da-no mu-ni-tsi-pa-li-te-tu (uni-ver-si-tas) Mdi-ny, from-bi-rav-she- mu-xia local pat-ri-tsia-tom, led by the well-known ka-pi-ta-n (ana-log-gic-av- to-no-miyu on the island of Go-tso). Malta ex-por-ti-ro-va-la cotton, cumin, honey, its inhabitants also enjoyed fishing and pi-rat st. Since the 15th century, Malta has been behind a hundred grains, olive oil and wine from Si-ci-lia. In 1429, the Tu-nis Arabs came under attack, in 1488 and 1526 - Tu-rock. In 1492, a large Jewish population came from Malta .
In 1530, Emperor Charles V transferred the Maltese islands to the fief of Or-de-nu io-an-ni-tov (gos-pi-tal-e-rov). In 1551, the Turks seized the island of Go-tso and took almost its entire population into slavery. With the aim of preventing the rotation of new ones on-pa-de-niy, io-an-ni-you brought powerful uk-re-p-le-nii in district of Ve-li-koy Ga-va-ni. In 1565, Malta, led by the Grand Master J. Pa-ri-zo de La Vallet-tom (La Valette), caught a 3-month-old wasp -du 40-thousand Turkish troops, several times superior to the strength of the Mal-tians (the first large military non- good luck two-rock in the Middle-earth-no-sea region).
Under the io-an-ni-tah, Malta for the first time became a self-sufficient state. The new capital of Malta, Val-let-ta, was built and surrounded by powerful uk-re-p-le-niya-mi Yes, we have a regular fleet and a state naval infrastructure, a system of support for the poor and sick; there was some kind of mo-ness, intensive urban construction was underway. There has been a noticeable development in agriculture and co-working construction. In 1592, the Ie-zu-it-skaya se-mi-na-ria was opened in Val-let-te (in 1769, a university arose on its basis) , in 1642 the book began. In the 16th-17th centuries, the village of Malta grew 6 times (to approximately 120 thousand people).
Management of the island issu-sche-st-v-la-elk knight-rya-mi or-de-na, pro-is-ho-div-shi-mi from the raz- other Western European countries; Italian was recognized as the state language. Maltese, most of the small rural farmers and tenants on neighboring lands or lands of the Catholic Church (personal -naya za-vis-si-most disappeared by the end of the 13th century), ras-smat-ri-va-lis io-an-ni-ta-mi in the quality of you-sa- fishing or-de-na. At least 10% of the population of the ar-hi-pe-la-ga co-stav-la-li are slaves, mostly under-lying the or-de-nu (rowers on the ha- le-rah, workers at shipyards, in weapons and other workshops, in construction, service), but workers -the same in the estates and houses of private individuals.
In 1798, Malta was without a fight for Na-po-le-o-nom Bo-na-par-tom (see Na-po-le-on I Bo-na-part). Part of the knight-ray or-de-na pri-nya-la hundred-ro-well French call, another, led by the Grand Master F. von Gom-pe -shom, po-ki-nu-la Malta. The French authorities are from me feudal pri-vi-legies, for-pre-ti-slavery, whether-to-vi-di-ro-va-li in-qui- zi-tion. Ra-di-cal-nye pre-o-ra-zo-va-nia, as well as the evil use of the French call, in particular the introduction their removal of high taxes, the removal of valuables from churches, the closure of the university, did you not call freedom of the place. The French were from Go-tso and wasp-de-ny in Val-let-te. The rebels turned for help to the commanding British es-cad-roy G. Nel-so-nu. In September 1800, Val-let-ta was handed over, over ar-hi-pe-la-g us-ta-nov-len British control.
Malta since 1800.
According to the conventions of the Peace of Paris in 1814, Malta was recognized by the country of Great Britain -bri-ta-nii. It became the main British naval base in Middle-earth-no-sea, and was actively used in the operation of armed forces. conflicts, including the Greek na-tsio-nal-no-os-vo-bo-di-tel-re-vo-lu-tion of 1821-1829, the Crimean War of 1853 -1856 and the 1st World War. The significance of Malta grew significantly after the opening of the Su-etz-ko-ka-na-la in 1869. By the beginning of the 20th century, up to 17 thousand soldiers were stationed in Malta, and there were over 80 warships in its ports; a significant part of the country was involved in the military and civil infrastructure.
In 1819, there was a li-k-vi-di-ro-van body of local self-government (uni-ver-si-tas), the power was re-da-na to the British gov-ber-na-to-ru. In 1829, trial by jury was introduced, in 1839 - freedom of speech. In 1835, the State Council was created from 7 famous Maltese governors. In 1849, the ko-ro-le-va Vik-to-ria da-ro-va-la Malta con-sti-tu-tion, in collaboration with ko-ro-va-la - got a number of complexes of the State Council (8 bi-rae and 10 national members). In 1868, the Civil Code began to operate (it was based on the Na-po-le-o-na Code). According to the constitution of 1887, the State Council became predominantly elected (14 out of 20 members). The op-re-de-len-naya dis-cri-mi-na-tion of the Mal-tians was preserved when they entered the civil service, the Mal-tians The Chinese language did not have the status of a state language.
At the end of the 1st World War, a growth in op-positional sentiments began among the local village , caused, among other things, by the reduction in the number of work places, the rise in prices for basic products. On June 7, 1919, British troops were deployed to suppress street demons in a row, after which de-pu-ta-you for- blo-ki-ro-va-li ra-bo-tu of the State Council. In 1921, Malta became self-governing, and according to the new constitution, the official languages became Italian and English -skiy (since 1934 - English and Maltese). Were there two-pa-lat-par-la-ment and a government headed by the prime minister . The governor-on-tor retained significant pol-no-power, the right to grow the par-la-ment; external po-li-ti-ka and ob-ro-na settled in the management of the metro-po-li. Were there the first political parties of the Maltese, including the Lei-bo-ri-st-Party of Mal-ty (LPM; 1920 ) and the Nationalist Party (NP; 1926). In 1930 and 1933, in the conditions of internal internal struggle, Veli-ko-bri-ta-niya for a time -ta-nav-li-va-la action-st-vie kon-sti-tu-tion; in 1936, the management of Malta passed to the British governor, based on the British government vet.
Malta
Territory: 316 km 2
Population: 402,000 people
EGP:The Republic of Malta is an island state in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea, which includes several islands with different terrain and coastline. Only three of them are inhabited; the largest o. Malta (246 sq. km), Gozo and Comino (the islands of Cominotto and Filfola are uninhabited). The islands of Malta and Gozo are composed of Tertiary limestones, which were severely destroyed under the influence of karst processes and denudation. The landscape is dominated by low plateaus, cut by valleys of rivers that dry up in summer.
Economy and population: Maltese agriculture develops mainly on terraced hillsides and irrigated valleys, where cereals, vegetables (Maltese onions) and citrus fruits are grown. The main role in Malta's economy is played by industries traditionally associated with the sea. Significant revenues to the treasury are brought in by international tourism, which is rapidly developing due to the sunny climate and the abundance of ancient monuments and other attractions of Malta.
Nature
Relief: The islands of the Maltese archipelago are of continental origin, they are high sections of underwater threshold raised above sea level, protruding plateaus (up to 253 m). The southern and southwestern shores, mostly steep and steep, are dotted with numerous grottoes; the northern and northeastern ones are low, flat, with convenient harbors. On the shores of the most convenient Great Bay on the north-eastern coast of the island of Malta, the capital and main port of the country, Valletta, is located.
Geological structure and minerals: The islands are made of soft limestone, an excellent building material used for all buildings in Malta. Natural conditions are favorable for agriculture, but there is a lack of suitable land for cultivation, as well as water. Malta is poor in mineral resources. It is said that due to the lack of soil, the Maltese in ancient times took a tax from foreign ships with land brought from the mainland. In addition to reserves of building limestone, the only great possibility is the extraction of salt and other substances from sea water.
Climate: Malta is located in the subtropical Mediterranean climate zone - the average January temperature in Valletta is 12C, and July 26C. Dry winds (sirocco) blowing from Africa in summer bring sweltering heat. It rains in winter in Malta, but the amount of precipitation is low (annual average 530 mm), which forces water use to be limited and seawater to be desalinated.
Soils: The layers of glauconitic sand and blue clay are relatively small and come to the surface only in isolated places. Nevertheless, for the inhabitants of the island they play a huge role, especially blue clay. The fact is that, firstly, precisely in the places where it comes to the surface, areas with the most fertile soils are located, and secondly, blue clay has the property of not allowing moisture to pass through, and where it lies under coral limestone, a large the number of artesian springs that are actively used for both domestic and agricultural needs, in particular for irrigating fields. Gozo is a kind of granary of the country, where Maltese peasants grow grains, vegetables and fruits on relatively small plots of fertile land. There is an assumption that it was this island that Homer sang about under the name Ogygia, describing the wanderings of the legendary Odysseus and his stay in captivity of the beautiful nymph Calypso. In particular, Fr. Gozo, the northernmost in the archipelago, is also the most developed agriculturally thanks to the presence of large areas of blue clay. At the same time, the third of the largest islands, Comino, located between Malta and Gozo, is entirely composed of coral limestone, which makes it unsuitable for use as agricultural land. The inhabitants of this island are mainly engaged in fishing.
The surface of the Maltese Islands at first glance seems completely flat, but this impression is deceptive. Fr. himself Malta has an overall slight slope from west to east. Its northwestern part is an alternation of low mountain ridges and lowlands. The erosion and demolition experienced by the limestone ridges and the washing away of alluvial rocks have led to the formation, on the one hand, of fertile soil in the valleys, and on the other, to the appearance of karst voids and depressions, which is very characteristic of the Maltese topography. In the east, mountain ranges and valleys gently slope down to the sea, creating beautiful bays. The most significant natural boundary in the north-west of Malta is the so-called Grand Canyon, which for centuries served as good protection for the island from pirate raids.
Helpful information:All roads in Malta are free and unimportant.Driving in Malta is on the left . The maximum permitted speed is 60 km/h, in the populated area - 40. Those who do not want to do so do not comply with it, but there are no straight and smooth roads here, so there is no opportunity to accelerate well. Difficulties in driving include hilliness (sudden ups and downs), narrow roads in old cities, and trouble with signs - they can lead you in circles for hours... But there are also advantages. First of all, there is the almost complete absence of police. Of course, it’s still not worth provoking its appearance, but it’s nice to realize the fact that no one is watching you in the bushes with a speed meter.
One of the most serious violations is parking in the wrong place. And although everyone violates and parks anywhere, it is not a fact that a tow truck or a blocker will not encounter your car.
Official paid parking lots in Malta are multi-tiered and civilized, they are equipped with an electronic control system. You can almost always find a space there, but you won’t always find the parking itself in the right place. There are such parking lots in large cities. In some bays (for example, near the Blue Grotto and Gnejna Bay) there are also “unofficially” paid parking in the form of a guard collecting money.
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Geographical location and nature
A state in southern Europe, located on the islands (Malta, Gozo, Cominotto, Comino, Filfla) in the Mediterranean Sea south of the island of Sicily. The length of the coastline is 140 km. The total area is 316 km 2. Most of the country's territory is located on a limestone plateau. Coasts with low cliffs, with a lot of coastal cliffs. The country has numerous bays with convenient harbors. Minor natural resources (limestone, table salt). Arable land occupies 38% of the country's territory.
Population
The population is 400,000 people, the average population density is about 1,155 people per km 2. The inhabitants of the island - the Maltese - are descendants of Italians, French and Arabs. The country has two official languages - Maltese (based on the Latin alphabet, but the vocabulary is mainly borrowed from Arabic) and English. The state religion is Catholicism. Birth rate - 13.22 newborns per 1,000 people (1995). Mortality - 7.43 deaths per 1,000 people (infant mortality rate - 7.7 deaths per 1,000 births). Average life expectancy: men - 75 years, women - 79 years (1995).
The country's climate is Mediterranean, with wet winters and hot, dry summers. The average annual temperature on the island is about 9°C. Precipitation is about 530 mm per year.
Vegetable world
The slopes of the mountains are dominated by rocky heaths, on which low, dry-loving shrubs grow. There are islands of pine trees and hard-leaved oaks characteristic of the Mediterranean. Spiny cacti and prickly pears often form hedges. Laurel, sage, and various types of chamomile are also typical for the flora of Malta.
Animal world
The country's wild fauna is quite poor. Many seagulls live off the coast; migratory birds rest on the islands in spring and autumn. The coastal waters are home to mullet, mackerel, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and a variety of shellfish.
Government structure, political parties
Full name - Republic of Malta. The government system is a republic. The capital is Valletta. Malta gained independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1964, but British troops remained in the country until 1979. Legislation is based on English common law. National holidays: September 21 - Independence Day, December 13 - Republic Day, September 8 - Victory Day, March 31 - Freedom Day, June 7 - Martyrs' Day. Executive power belongs to the president (head of state) and the government headed by the prime minister. The most influential political parties: Nationalist Party (NP), Labor Party (MLP), Social Democratic Party.
Economics, transport communications
The lack of natural resources in Malta is compensated by its favorable geographical location and the presence of a highly qualified workforce. GNP amounted to $3.9 billion in 1994 (GNP per capita - $10,760). The main sectors of the economy are transit and transport operations, foreign tourism. Among the leading industries (production provides 25% of GNP) are shipbuilding and ship repair, textiles, clothing, footwear, electrical engineering, food, and limestone mining occupies an important place in the country's economy. In agriculture (4.1% of GNP), small peasant farms predominate, the main directions being farming (grains and vegetables are grown), viticulture, fruit growing, and floriculture. Dairy farming predominates in livestock farming. Most food products are imported; Malta meets only 20% of its food needs from its own resources. One of the most important sources of income is foreign tourism. The monetary unit is the Maltese lira (1 Maltese lira (LM) is equal to 100 cents). Main trading partners: Germany, Great Britain, Italy.
There are no railways, the total length of roads is 1,291 km (1,180 km are asphalt roads). The main port of the country is Valletta.
Having a strategic location since ancient times, the island of Malta belonged to the 9th century. BC e. Phoenicians, in the 8th century. BC e. - to the Greeks. Possession of Carthage from the 6th century. BC e., the island was captured during the Punic Wars by the Romans in 218 BC. e. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Malta was captured by the Vandals, then the Ostrogoths, and in 533 it became part of the Byzantine Empire. In 869 the island was occupied by the Arabs, and in the 11th century. passed to the Normans, who annexed Malta to Sicily. From the 16th century The island was transferred to the Knights of the Order of St. John, who became known as the Knights of Malta. Beginning in 1680, French influence grew on the island, and in the 18th century. Malta was a major commercial center for France in the Mediterranean. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte captured the island, which, however, passed into the hands of the British in 1800. As a British colony, Malta was subjected to massive bombing by the Italian and German air forces, but did not surrender and in 1943 served as a springboard for the landing of Allied troops in Sicily. Gaining independence in 1964, Malta was declared a republic in 1974, but British troops remained on the island until 1979.
Malta is poor in natural resources; there are practically no minerals on the archipelago; Only limestone and table salt are mined here. Therefore, the republic’s economy is focused mainly on taking advantage of its geographical location at the crossroads of busy sea routes and the climatic advantages of the archipelago, which attract a large number of tourists. The colonial past also left its mark on Malta's economy. For more than a century and a half of domination in Malta, the British authorities completely subordinated the life of this and neighboring islands to their military-strategic interests, which led to the one-sided development of the Maltese economy. By the time the British left, agriculture and handicrafts, which had characterized the islands almost since the time of the Phoenicians, had fallen into decline. The main island of the archipelago was turned by the colonialists into a military fortress, its convenient natural harbors were used as naval bases where military ships of Great Britain and then other NATO countries were serviced and repaired, and military air bases were located in the most fertile valleys of Malta. The population was mainly occupied with servicing British military bases. A number of industries ceased to exist, in particular, cotton growing and the textile industry disappeared, the production of grain and olives fell sharply, and fishing declined.
The Labor government that emerged from the 1971 election victory set out to revive the stagnant economy. First of all, it undertook to revise the military and financial agreements with Great Britain and demanded from the British significant rent for the use of military installations in Malta. Every year for seven years, England pledged to pay the republic 14 million pounds. Art., which back in 1972 amounted to almost 1/4 of all foreign currency received by Malta. In an effort to get rid of the British military presence, the Labor government set the goal of achieving, first of all, economic independence from Great Britain. Labor considered the main ways to achieve this goal to be the industrialization of the country and the diversification of the economy, which constituted the main objectives of the seven-year plan for the socio-economic development of Malta, covering the period from 1974 to 1980. As the ultimate goal, the plan provided for achieving by 1979 a level of development that would make it possible to do without foreign rent payments.
One of the first steps towards creating an independent economy was the formation of a significant public sector, which began to own key positions. In particular, during this period, dry docks were expanded and transferred under workers' control, the largest banks and a number of foreign firms were nationalized, and state-owned industrial enterprises were created.
The country's largest plant is a ship repair plant, which employs over 5 thousand people. Ships from 15 countries are repaired here. While the capacity of other ship repair facilities on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea is often idle, the Maltese docks are busy all year round.
Near the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, at the initiative of the government, the construction of a large port has begun in order to turn Malta into a transshipment point for international trade in the Mediterranean Sea. The Labor government devotes considerable attention not only to industrial development, but also to strengthening the position of agriculture, and here again it acts mainly through the creation of state agricultural enterprises that develop new lands in order to eventually transfer them to the use of peasants united in cooperatives.
State economic policy for the first half of the 80s was determined by the five-year development plan (1981-1985). Priority was given to the construction of ship repair and shipyards, tourism, agriculture and fishing.
Another leading sector of Malta's economy is tourism, which has undergone significant development in recent years. If in 1972 about 150 thousand tourists visited Malta, then just nine years later 705.7 thousand people visited the country. Tourists to Malta are attracted by exceptionally favorable climatic conditions; beautiful beaches, warm sea, high level of service. One of the important factors can be considered the fact that Malta is located near Western European countries. Government policy also plays a major role in the development of tourism, directing large amounts of funds to this industry. Foreign investors also prefer to invest in the tourism industry because it pays off quickly.
The Maltese government has introduced a number of financial and tax incentives for foreign companies investing in the sphere of material production. In Malta, primary importance is attached to the search for oil with the help of foreign concerns. Exploration is carried out in the coastal and shelf areas of the archipelago. Oil lurking in the depths of the sea could change the fate of this island state, deprived of fuel and energy resources and in need of their export. In the mid-70s, a number of agreements were signed for oil exploration work off the southern coast of Malta. When issuing licenses for geological exploration, the government required companies that entered into contracts to provide large subsidies to finance the industrial development of the republic. The first oil agreement was concluded with the American company Texaco.
Speaking about the industry of Malta, it should be noted that in addition to the already mentioned shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises, there are car assembly and auto repair shops, metalworking plants, enterprises for the production of products from synthetic fibers, plastic, building materials, etc. Light industry sectors such as cotton, clothing, furniture, as well as the food industry, tobacco production and arts and crafts.
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MALTA, The Republic of Malta is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea, 95 km from Sicily and 290 km from Tunisia. Area 316 sq. km. It consists of the islands of Malta (246 sq. km), Gozo (67 sq. km) and Comino (2.6 sq. km), separated by deep straits. The capital is the city of Valletta on the northern shore of the island of Malta. 9.3 thousand people live in Valletta, in the adjacent cities: Birkirkara - 21.2 thousand, Qormi - 17.7 thousand, Mosta - 16.7 thousand. In fact, they all merged into a single agglomeration. From 1814, Malta was a British colony until independence in 1964. In 1974, the Republic of Malta was proclaimed. The country occupies an important strategic position between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal.
Nature.
The Maltese islands are composed of limestone with thin layers of clay and sandstone. Relatively soft, light-brown globigerine limestones are easily weathered, and fertile soils are formed on them, widely used in agriculture. On older dense coral limestones, typical reddish soils are developed, which are difficult to cultivate or are not at all suitable for agriculture. Most of the country is dominated by flat terrain. Only in the northwestern part of the island of Malta, as a result of tectonic movements along faults, a differentiation occurred between uplifted limestone blocks with steep slopes and basins filled with loose sediments. The highest altitudes (up to 253 m) are located near the southern coast of the island. Accordingly, many rivers flow from south to north, their valleys in the upper parts are deeply cut into the topography. In summer, rivers often dry up. There are many convenient harbors on the island of Malta, the best are near the city of Valletta. The southern coast of the island is leveled and steep.
Summer in Malta is hot and dry, the average temperature in August is 25° C. Winter is mild, humid, the average temperature in January is 12° C. In summer, sultry winds from the Sahara - sirocco - often blow. During June and August, agriculture relies heavily on irrigation. The average annual precipitation is 500 mm, most of it falls in September and May, at which time agricultural work intensifies. There are strong fluctuations in the long-term course of precipitation, and in dry years it is necessary to limit water use.
Population.
In 2003, 400.4 thousand people lived in Malta. Human. In the 19th century emigration from the island of Malta took on significant proportions. The main flows of emigrants were sent to the countries of Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and after the First World War, mainly to Australia, as well as to Great Britain, Canada and the USA. After 1945, a decline in the birth rate and high rates of emigration (about 1% of the population per year) restrained population growth, and since the early 1960s there has been a population decline. In 2003, the birth rate was 12.75 per 1000 inhabitants, and the death rate was 7.8 deaths per 1000 inhabitants. Life expectancy for men is 75.94 years, and for women - 81.14.
The majority of the population is concentrated in the Valletta urban agglomeration, adjacent to the Marsamxett and Grand Harbor harbours. Rural settlements arose mainly in the Middle Ages, and some of them have more than 8 thousand inhabitants. Many residents of these settlements are employed in agriculture, and a significant portion work in cities. Maltese villages traditionally celebrate the days of their patrons - the saints of the Roman Catholic Church. In June, the whole country celebrates harvest day (Imparia). The whole country celebrates September 8 - the day of Malta's victory during the Great Siege of 1565 and in the Second World War (this holiday is called Regatta). The biggest holiday in Malta takes place in mid-February - a three-day carnival.
The official languages are English and Maltese. In everyday life, the islanders use the Maltese language, which is similar to Arabic, with borrowings from Romance and English languages. Legal proceedings are conducted in this language. Literature in Maltese is poor. Education is given mainly in English. Many educated people also speak Italian.
In Malta, the Roman Catholic Church dominates. More than 360 churches and chapels have been built in the country, many of them are remarkable architectural monuments. Being deeply religious people, the Maltese often organize religious holidays, accompanied by fireworks and performances by brass bands.
In the past, the church had a great influence on politics. For example, until 1969 she criticized the activities of the Maltese Labor Party. Since 1974 the church has no longer been involved in political activities, but maintains a strong influence in the educational system.
Government system and politics.
From 1964–1974, Malta was a parliamentary monarchy, part of the British Commonwealth; The head of state was considered the British monarch, represented by the governor-general. The new constitution declared Malta a republic on December 13, 1974. The last changes to the constitution were made in 1987.
The head of state is the president, elected by parliament for a five-year term. The country's first president, from 1974 to 1976, was former Governor-General Anthony Mamo. Labor's Anton Buttigieg and Agatha Barbara served as president from 1976–1982 and 1982–1987. He then moved on to politicians from the Nationalist Party of Malta (NPM) - Paul Schwereb (1987-1989), Chentz Tabone (1989-1994) and Hugo Mifsud Bonnici (1994-1999). Since April 4, 1999, the President of Malta has been a member of the NPM, Guido De Marco. De Marco was born in 1931, worked as a lawyer and professor of criminal law at the University of Malta. From 1966 he was a member of parliament from the NPM, and from 1972–1977 the party’s general secretary. In 1987, De Marco became Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Internal Affairs and Justice, and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990–1996 and 1998–1999.
Legislative power in the republic belongs to a unicameral parliament – the House of Representatives. It consists of 65 deputies elected for a period of five years. Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the Prime Minister. The government is formed by the political party with the majority of seats in parliament. Since September 1998, Prime Minister has been Edouard Fenech Adami. E. Fenech Adami was born in 1934, studied law, worked as a lawyer. In 1961 he joined the NPM, was the editor-in-chief of the party organ, the newspaper Il Poplu, and was first elected to parliament in 1969. In 1975 he became Deputy Secretary General of the NPM. Leader of the Opposition 1981–1987 and 1996–1998; in 1987–1996 he headed the government of Malta.
Political parties.
National Party of Malta (NPM) – created in 1926 on the basis of the Maltese Political Union and the National Democratic Party. Currently it is a Christian Democratic party. In the field of economics, he advocates a “free market economy”, the development of private property and foreign investment, and limiting government intervention in the economy. In foreign policy, he focuses on Western countries and the European Union. In the post-World War II period, it was in power from 1950–1955, 1962–1971, 1987–1996 and from 1998. In the parliamentary elections in April 2003, the NPM received 51.8% of the vote and won 34 of the 65 seats in the House of Representatives.
Malta Labor Party (MLP) – Social Democratic, founded in 1920, part of the Socialist International. Traditionally, she advocated strengthening the public sector in the economy, expanding the social security system, health care and education. In foreign policy he defends the neutrality and non-alignment of Malta. The LPM was in power from 1947–1949, 1955–1958, 1971–1987 and 1996–1998. In the 2003 parliamentary elections, she collected 47.5% of the vote and has 31 seats in the House of Representatives.
Democratic Alternative (YES) – a political organization uniting left-wing circles and environmental activists. It was formed in 1991, including the Democratic Party, the Greens, etc. In the 2003 parliamentary elections it received 0.7% of the vote. Not represented in parliament.
Economy.
During the reign of the Knights of the Order of St. John (1530–1798) and Great Britain (1800–1964), living standards were generally significantly higher than in neighboring countries. Increased attention to military facilities did not impede the development of other sectors of the economy. These trends, however, were restrained due to limited natural resources and the narrowness of the domestic market. After the Second World War, Malta was in a position to develop a more diversified economy. In 1957, the British began to close down their military base in Malta.
Largely thanks to British economic assistance, Malta was able to adapt to new conditions. Since 1959, plans for the development of tourism, light industry and trade began to be implemented. The importance of tourism for Malta has increased with the growing prosperity of Western European countries and the demand for holidays in the Mediterranean. In the mid-1990s, more than 1.2 million tourists visited Malta annually. Many of them arrived on cruise ships that stopped at the port of Valletta - Grand Harbor.
Malta has proven attractive for the location of new industrial sectors, specializing in automobile assembly, textiles, clothing, paper products and furniture, as well as electronics and pharmaceuticals. Many of the new businesses are located in the cities of Birkirkara, Qormi, Mosta and others within the Valletta metropolitan area. Their population has grown rapidly over the past 20 years. Malta provided investors with tax incentives and financing on favorable terms.
In the country's economy, an important place is occupied by historically established industries - shipbuilding and ship repair, which have qualified workers.
Agriculture plays a small role in the country's economy and is still carried out in traditional ways. The area of cultivated land has decreased primarily due to the alienation of the least productive lands. Malta's main agricultural products are wheat, barley and fodder crops; potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables; various fruits; flowers and seeds.
Malta's leading trading partners are Italy, Germany, UK, USA and Libya. The main import items are mechanical engineering products, food, energy resources and chemical products. Mechanical engineering products and transport equipment account for about half of the country's export revenues. Malta has a persistent trade deficit. In 2001, import costs amounted to $2.8 billion, while only $2 billion was earned from exports. Profits from tourism of $587 million in 1995 helped partially cover this deficit.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2002 was estimated at $6,818 billion, or per capita $17,200.
The monetary unit is the Maltese lira (another name is the Maltese pound). The main sources of government revenue are customs duties, excise and income taxes, as well as EEC assistance.
Education
in Malta it is free and compulsory for children aged 5 to 16 years. About 2/3 of the country's private schools are under the control of the Roman Catholic Church, and they are also free. Almost 6.4 thousand students studied at the Royal University of Malta (founded in 1592) in 1996.
Story.
It is assumed that in 5 thousand BC. Malta was settled by Neolithic tribes from Sicily. At the end of the Neolithic era and the Chalcolithic period, the archipelago became the center of a highly developed and still mysterious civilization, which left numerous monuments and structures on it. The most famous of these is the Hypogeum temple at Hal Saflieni, built between 3200 and 2900 BC. During its excavations, archaeologists found the remains of 6 thousand people buried along with various ritual objects. On the islands of Malta and Gozo, majestic megalithic temples have been preserved - the stone sanctuaries of Hal-Tarshien, Hajnar-Kim, Mnajdra, Mgarr, Ggantija and others. The population was engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and weaving. About 2 thousand years BC. this culture suddenly came to an end. The subsequent Bronze Age was accompanied by a dramatic and significant change in the lifestyle of the ancient Maltese.
In the 8th century. BC. Phoenician colonists settled on the islands, attracted to Malta by its convenient harbors and strategically advantageous position in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. It is assumed that the name Malta itself comes from the Phoenician word “Malat” - harbor. The Phoenicians surrounded the city of Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta, with a wall. The ancient Greeks also settled on the islands. In the 6th century BC. Malta came under the rule of Carthage, which lasted almost three hundred years. From this time, a column dedicated to the god Melqart has been preserved.
The Carthaginians turned the islands into an important naval base from which they could threaten Italy. In 257 BC. The Roman commander Attila Regulus captured Malta, but was unable to hold it. Only in 218 BC, during the Second Punic War, the Roman Empire managed to expel the Carthaginians and gain a foothold on the islands. The remains of villas with mosaic floors, baths, huge catacombs and other historical monuments still remind us of their stay here. Cicero and Livy described Mdina as a city with beautiful buildings and a high standard of living. Under the Romans, Malta was a center for the production of luxury goods. In addition, wheat and plums were grown on the islands; there was textile production.
During Roman times, Christianity spread to the Maltese Islands. According to legend, it was introduced by the Apostle Paul, who was shipwrecked here on his way to Rome in 60 AD. He spent three months in Malta, cured the father of the ruler Publius, founded a Christian community and appointed Publius the first bishop.
After the division of the Roman Empire, Malta became part of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium). In 870, the archipelago was captured by the Arabs, who had a great influence on the economy, culture and language of the population. They introduced an irrigation system, significantly increasing soil fertility. Under them, Islam established itself in Malta. In 1090 the islands were conquered by the Normans and became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. This meant restoration of ties with Europe, economic development and the return of Christianity. In the 13th century The last Muslims were evicted from the islands.
Together with Sicily, Malta came under Spanish rule in 1282. In the 12th–15th centuries. the island flourished; its inhabitants grazed livestock, grew wheat, cotton and caraway seeds, which they exported to European countries. Crafts developed and artisan guilds emerged. Malta remained a commercial center and port of international importance.
However, in the 15th century, at the height of the wars between European states and the Muslim dynasties of North Africa, Malta became the target of devastating pirate raids. Trade stopped and the island's economy collapsed. The situation changed when Malta was turned into a Christian outpost against Turkish expansion in the Mediterranean.
In 1530, the Spanish king Charles V transferred Malta to the Order of St. John, which has since become known as the Order of Malta. It was attacked by the Turks several times. After the raid of 1551, the Knights of Malta began to actively fortify the islands, and construction work contributed to the revival of the country's economy. In 1565, with the support of Spanish troops from Sicily, the order managed to repel the invasion of the 40,000-strong Turkish army and fleet of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In the battles, which lasted four months, 250 of the 600 knights and thousands of Maltese who defended the island died.
In 1566, the Grand Master of the Order, Jean le la Valette, founded a new city - Valletta, which had magnificent harbors with a convenient port and turned into a trading center of the Mediterranean. The city was a fortress, and most of the fortifications (Fort San Elmo) were carved into the rocks. In 1571 Valletta became the capital of Malta, and by 1674 already 12 thousand people lived in it. It was a rich, prosperous city, decorated with magnificent temples and Baroque houses. On the island of Malta, shipbuilding and ship repair began to develop rapidly, the production of sails and ropes, and the processing of metals and wood were established. Income from the order's property from all over Europe flocked to Malta, and the Knights of Malta, alien to the local population, indulged in luxury. They did not disdain the slave trade.
The total population of the archipelago from 1530 to 1798 increased from 20 thousand to 100 thousand people. But already by the 18th century. The Order of Malta began to lose its importance. The island's economy began to decline. The plague epidemic in 1676 caused heavy damage. Conflicts between the order and the local Catholic Church intensified, and in 1755 part of the clergy, with the support of the residents, rebelled against the despotism of the grand masters.
In 1798, heading to Egypt, the French fleet with Napoleon's army approached Malta. Grand Master Gompes surrendered the island without resistance in June. The act of surrender provided for the order's departure from Malta. But the initial enthusiasm of the Maltese gave way to indignation: the French occupiers plundered churches and palaces and introduced new taxes. Already in September, the inhabitants rebelled, proclaimed a republic on the island of Gozo, besieged Valletta and turned to Sicily and the British Admiral Nelson for help. After a long blockade, Nelson captured Malta in 1800. A British protectorate was established over the archipelago. Great Britain refused to return Malta to the order, citing a resolution of the islands' elected representatives. Rejecting Maltese calls for representative government, she declared Malta a British colony in 1813. The constitutions of 1813, 1835, 1849, 1887 and 1903 consolidated its colonial status. All power belonged to the British governor. In 1835, a council of 7 people was created under him, which included 2 Maltese representatives. In 1849, the election of some members of the council was introduced; in 1887, elected members received the majority of seats on the council.
A British military garrison was stationed in Malta, reaching 10 thousand troops. The island served as Britain's most important base. Since the 1840s, new military installations were built. Malta's strategic role increased even more during the Crimean War (1854–1856) and after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The island became the key to the sea route from Europe to India.
In 1919, for the first time, there was a major uprising of the Maltese against the colonial regime. It was suppressed, but contributed to the revitalization of socio-political life. In the 1920s, political parties emerged - Labor, National and others. In 1921 the population was granted limited self-government. The governor and his council retained control over matters of defense and foreign relations. The elected legislative assembly and senate exercised legislative and executive powers in internal affairs. However, due to political crises, the British administration suspended the constitution in 1930 and 1933, and repealed it in 1936. Until 1947, Malta was ruled solely by the governor.
During World War II, Malta endured a long blockade by Italy and Germany. 14 thousand bombs were dropped on the islands, killing at least one and a half thousand civilians and destroying 37 thousand buildings. From June 1940 to July 1943, the archipelago was cut off from the outside world. In 1942, for heroism in defense, the King of Great Britain awarded Malta the highest order - the Cross of St. George. Since then, his image has been placed on the Maltese flag.
In 1947, the British authorities restored constitutional self-government in Malta. During the elections to the Legislative Assembly, the Malta Labor Party (MLP) won, and its leader Paul Boffa formed the government of the country. But already in 1949 there was a split in the party due to disagreements on issues of British financial assistance. After leaving the LPM, Boffa created a new Workers' Party, which entered into a bloc with the Nationalist Party (NPM). After the early elections of 1950, a coalition government was created led by the nationalist leader Enrico Mizzi, and after his death by Giorgio Borg Olivier. The ruling coalition won subsequent elections in 1951 and 1953.
The NPM, which headed the government cabinet, put forward the slogan of complete self-government for Malta, in which foreign policy and defense issues would be resolved jointly by the British and the Maltese. The Labor Party, led by Dominic Mintoff, sought during this period the gradual inclusion of Malta into the constitutional and socio-economic structure of the metropolis. In 1955, Labor won the general elections, and D. Mintoff's government began negotiations with Great Britain on integration. The corresponding initiative was approved in a referendum in 1956. However, the British side refused to provide Malta with financial and economic assistance to the extent that the Mintoff government considered necessary for integration. Having failed to implement their plans, Maltese Labor demanded immediate and complete independence of the country. During the struggle, they resorted to methods of passive resistance, civil disobedience, appeals to the UN, international organizations and great powers. In 1958, the Maltese held mass demonstrations for independence, the government pointedly resigned, and a general strike began. Protesters attacked police stations, disrupted communications, and erected barricades. The British governor declared a state of emergency, banned meetings, and called in additional troops. Further negotiations did not produce results, and in 1959 the British authorities suspended the constitution. In response, the Maltese launched a campaign of civil disobedience and strikes. In 1961, Great Britain was forced to grant internal self-government to Malta. The archipelago ceased to be a colony and turned into an autonomous state. However, the British Governor-General still had the final say in all matters. In 1962 elections were held to the House of Representatives. They brought victory to the NPM, which received the support of the Catholic Church and sought in the future to transform Malta into a British dominion cooperating with NATO. Labor, which demanded a republic, was defeated. The new nationalist government was formed by Borg Olivier. In 1963, a conference on the independence of Malta was held in London, and in May 1964, a constitution for an independent state was approved in a referendum. On the night of September 21, 1964, Malta became independent. The British Queen remained at the head of the state. The country was bound by a ten-year agreement About mutual defense and assistance with the former metropolis, British troops and bases continued to be stationed on its territory (in exchange for financial subsidies). Labor was highly critical of the terms of independence. But in the 1966 elections they were defeated again.
The Maltese state established diplomatic relations with various countries (including the USSR in 1967). But in general, the NPM government focused its foreign policy on Great Britain and the United States. In 1965, Malta signed a resolution establishing a “special relationship” with NATO. Agreements were reached with the United States on the servicing of American military vessels. Since 1967, the country has been negotiating cooperation with the EEC and in 1970 concluded an association agreement with the European Community.
The Maltese government was unhappy with the British government's decision to reduce the presence of its troops on the islands, which left 6.5 thousand Maltese unemployed. Thanks to the agreement with the UK, it was possible to slow down this process, reduce the number of layoffs and compensate for them by creating new jobs.
Malta's economic situation worsened after the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967. Fewer ships began calling at the island’s ports, and budget revenues decreased. The volume of ship repair work decreased, the trade deficit and negative balance of payments grew. The Maltese government devalued the pound, nationalized dry docks and obtained additional financial support from Great Britain, but these measures could not stop the growing crisis. In 1969, Great Britain announced the suspension of assistance under the financial agreements of 1964. The new conditions were less favorable for Malta. The government had to resort to loans and credits. Rising prices, unemployment and low wages caused numerous protests and strikes.
Before the general elections of 1971, the opposition Labor Party was able to agree with the Catholic Church on the latter's non-interference in politics. LPM promised to ensure the country's economic independence, develop national industry and agriculture, reduce public debt and expand social security. On foreign policy, Labor called for a review of military agreements with the UK and agreements with the EEC, an increase in British financial compensation for the use of military bases, non-alignment of Malta and strengthening ties with neighboring Libya. Labor was supported by the largest trade union association, the General Labor Union. Having won 28 of the 55 seats in the House of Representatives, the LPM formed a government in June 1971 headed by D. Mintoff.
Having come to power, Labor carried out a number of economic and political reforms. They limited government spending, established government control over imports, exports of currency, and prices, began subsidizing basic food and industrial goods, created a dock administration, and took measures to reduce dependence on the British pound sterling. The state began to intervene extensively in the economy. Projects were developed to accelerate industrialization, enterprises were built with state participation, industrial zones were created, as well as state-owned and mixed companies in such areas as maritime and air transport, energy, communications and information, banking, and oil exploration. Unions were allowed to operate the docks. The agreement on the presence of British troops was canceled and revised in 1972 on more favorable terms for Malta. Tourism developed. Measures were taken to reduce unemployment. In the social field, allowances for high costs, pensions and benefits, as well as allocations for housing construction were increased. The authorities increased wages and introduced a 40-hour and five-day working week.
The economic activity of the state did not mean a refusal to develop private enterprise - Maltese and foreign. The Labor government provided tax and other incentives to foreign investors. Malta continued to receive foreign loans and credits.
By the mid-1970s, the government managed to stabilize and improve the economic situation. The standard of living in Malta was one of the highest in the Mediterranean. Although economic growth slowed at the end of the decade, the country's situation remained satisfactory.
In 1974, the Maltese Labor government achieved changes to the country's constitution. A republic was proclaimed, the voting qualification was reduced from 21 to 18 years, the scope of the church's activities was somewhat limited, and civil marriages were introduced. In 1975, the LPM again won the parliamentary elections, collecting an absolute majority of votes.
On foreign policy, the Labor government ended its "special" relationship with NATO, expelled the bloc's naval commander and banned visits from American warships. In 1979, British troops were finally withdrawn, and the base where they were located was closed. In 1980–1981 Malta declared itself a neutral state. Ties developed with Libya, which provided Malta with significant financial assistance, and other countries in Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean. Relations with the Eastern Bloc states and China improved. True, in 1980 relations with Libya deteriorated due to disagreements about boundaries on the continental shelf. Libya sent military ships to the conflict area, Malta filed a complaint with the UN Security Council. Subsequently, a decision was made to refer the issue to the International Court, and ties between the two states began to be restored.
In 1981, when crisis phenomena began to affect the country's economy again and unemployment increased, the next parliamentary elections were held. The opposition NPM received an absolute majority of votes, but, thanks to the peculiarities of the electoral system, 34 of the 65 seats in the House of Representatives went to Labor. Nationalists demanded that the rules be changed and new general elections be held. They declared a temporary boycott of parliament and carried out a political strike, but were unsuccessful.
In 1983, a new wave of unrest broke out when the Maltese government tried to encourage the Catholic Church to allow free schooling. It decided to confiscate three-quarters of the church property, but the court overturned this decision as illegal. When parliament introduced a ban on tuition fees in 1984, the church closed its schools. More clashes followed, and in 1985 a compromise was reached: the church agreed to free secondary education in exchange for the state subsidizing half of the school costs.
In 1984, Mintoff was replaced as Prime Minister by Labor leader Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. He became famous for his work as a legal adviser to trade unions (from 1969), when he managed to prevent the adoption of a bill that provided for prison sentences for participating in strikes. But already in 1987, the opposition NPM won the next parliamentary elections, which advocated Malta’s entry into the EEC. The nationalist leader, lawyer Eduard Fenech Adami, became the country's Prime Minister. The 1992 elections brought him success again.
Malta at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries
Under the NPM government, Malta refocused on expanding ties with the West. In 1990 it applied to join the EU. In 1995 the country joined the NATO program Partnership for Peace while remaining a neutral state.
In December 1992 it was signed Joint Declaration of Friendship and Cooperation with Russia.
The state continued to finance an extensive system of social services - free education, medical care, pensions, etc. But the economy has undergone structural restructuring in accordance with EU standards. In 1992, a 20-year economic development plan was adopted, which provided for the transformation of the country into an international financial and trade center. There was economic growth, unemployment in the early 1990s did not exceed 3.5%. In 1995, the government introduced a 15% value added tax, which caused significant discontent among the population.
Malta's entry into the European Union was planned for 1999. However, this did not happen, as the NPM, despite the support of the church, was defeated in early parliamentary elections in October 1996. The LPM won, promising to turn Malta into the “Switzerland of the Mediterranean” and a free trade zone. The new Labor Prime Minister Alfred Sant, a former trade union leader, immediately announced the country's withdrawal from the NATO program Partnership for Peace, abolished value added tax and withdrew the country's request to join the EU.
The LPM had a minimal majority in parliament (35 out of 69 seats), and lost it in 1998. In the early elections in September, the opposition NPM was successful. With 51.8% of the vote, she won 35 of the 65 seats in the House of Representatives. The government was again headed by E. Fenech Adami. It confirmed the request for EU membership and reinstated the value added tax, citing the need to adapt to the economic structure of Europe, from which Malta expects generous financial assistance. In April 2003, the NPM won the general elections again.
In 2003, Malta held a referendum on joining the European Union. Despite opposition from Labor and the traditional way of life, the majority of the population approved of joining the European Union.
