https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/37998 2026-09-27T20:35:54Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148520 Title: Long-term sustainability of Gozo's agroecosystem : the strategic plan to support SDG 15 Abstract: Gozo’s agroecosystem has seen a decline in recent years. European Union and Maltese policy frameworks are therefore assessed to examine their effectiveness in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land). Considering the geographic and socio-economic constraints that Gozo has, this study will better understand the challenges that micro-islands’ agroecosystems face. These challenges include severe land fragmentation, water scarcity, climate-induced pressures, insecure tenure arrangements, demographic decline among farmers, and limited market access. A convergent mixed-methods case study approach was used for this research integrating policy analysis with semi-structured interviews. To examine the relationship between the EU and Malta, two Maltese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were interviewed to provide an EU-level policy perspective from Maltese elected representatives. As these challenges are experienced directly by farmers, fifteen Gozitan farmers were interviewed to provide insight into their everyday realities. This multi-level design provided a link between the implemented policies and the everyday realities, revealing coherence as well as policy-practice gaps. The findings show that the EU-level frameworks, particularly the Common Agricultural Policy, the Nature Restoration Law, and the Farm to Fork Strategy, are essential biodiversity and climate instruments that ensure regulatory and financial support is provided. At the national level, the Budget proposals from 2024 – 2026 were assessed with proposals such as land registration reforms, irrigation schemes, and targeted funding, alongside Malta’s CAP. However, after analysing all the national measures, implementation remains uneven and more effective actions are still required. Safeguarding Gozo’s agroecosystem requires strengthened monitoring, improved enforcement and a competitive market for Gozitan farmers. This can all be done with deeper collaboration with Gozitan farmers to adopt measures that target their needs. Unfortunately, Gozo risks further ecological decline, undermining long-term sustainability objectives. Description: M.A.(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147103 Title: Digital transformation in the EU and the recovery and resilience fund : a comparative analysis of Italy and Portugal Abstract: This dissertation examines digital skills development in the European Union (EU), incorporating a comparative analysis of Portugal and Italy with a focus on digital skills development and the contribution of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The EU’s digital transformation agenda aims to improve member countries’ competitiveness, connectivity, and inclusion by strenghtening digital infrastructure, government operations, innovation, data safeguarding, and most importantly, digital skills and education. The RRF complements this objective by allocating a significant amount of financing towards digital transformations and investments. The primary objective of this study is to assess the performance of Portugal and Italy in the digital sphere, focusing on identifying gaps in digital skills and assessing how RRF-funded initiatives handle these obstacles. The dissertation is motivated by two research questions, namely: 1) How do Italy and Portugal compare in their digital transformation, with a focus on digital skills? and 2) What digital transformation policies have these countries adopted, and how is the Recovery and Resilience Fund assisting in particular with regard to digital skills? A comparative case study methodology is applied in this dissertation, which incorporates both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data, mainly from the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), offers a measurable assessment of digital performance and skills levels in both nations. This makes it easier to assess existing strengths and weaknesses in comparison to EU average levels. Qualitative analysis examines policies, national digital strategies, and RRF investment strategies to better comprehend government objectives, implementation tactics, and structural approaches to enhancing digital skills. The findings in this study show that while both countries confront persistent issues in digital skills, Portugal performs better in terms of digital literacy and public involvement in digital training programmes. Italy’s digital skills landscape exhibits wider regional disparities. RRF financing in both nations aims to enhance digital capabilities, but policy goals differ; Portugal prioritises nationwide digital education and inclusive training programmes, whereas Italy focuses on modernising employment abilities and tackling territorial disparities. Overall, the study emphasises the understanding of EU digital governance by examining how specific EU financial support could contribute to decreasing digital skills disparities and promoting digital inclusion. The comparative approach highlights not just the progress made but also areas where both nations’ policies must be strengthened to accomplish EU digital objectives and guarantee that consumers and enterprises are prepared for an increasingly digital future. Description: M.A.(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145746 Title: The PiS and Fidesz approaches toward the European Union Abstract: This dissertation is a comparative study of the Fidesz party in Hungary and the PiS party in Poland in their approach towards the European Union and the Euroscepticism shown in several areas(Such as migration and rule of law), whilst exploring whether their nationalistic and conservative agendas come out in these areas. The study also investigated the Euroscepticism of both political parties regarding the EU and the extent of the Euroscepticism, including whether they use a hard or soft Euroscepticism. The study emphasises how PiS and Fidesz frequently portray the EU as a danger to national identity and sovereignty in the respective member states, even though they profit economically from membership. Finally, while both PiS and Fidesz benefit from EU membership, they feel that the EU challenges them with threats to sovereignty and unwanted policies that increase Eurosceptic sentiment towards the supranational organisation; thus, the research will reveal how their tactics are representative of a larger pattern of growing Euroscepticism in Eastern and Central Europe. Description: M.A.(Melit.) 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145393 Title: The Maltese media coverage of the 2022 national and 2024 European Parliament elections Abstract: This thesis examines how Maltese media framed the 2022 national election and the 2024 European Parliament election, with a particular focus on the portrayal of the European Union and whether the EP elections in Malta reflect second-order election dynamics. Despite Malta’s highly mediatised and politically parallel media environment, scholarly attention to the comparative framing of national and European elections remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analysing 61 news articles published during the three months before each election across three outlets representing distinct editorial orientations: One News (Labour Party), Net News (Nationalist Party) and Times of Malta (independent). Using qualitative content analysis guided by framing theory, the study identifies key patterns in value, conflict, issue, narrative, personalisation and emphasis framing. The findings reveal significant differences in how the two election types were represented. Partisan outlets domesticated both elections, but with different emphases: One News framed the EU as a cooperative partner validating Labour’s achievements, while Net News portrayed the EU as a moral authority through which the Nationalist Party could “restore” Malta’s reputation. By contrast, Times of Malta adopted a balanced, issue-oriented approach, offering factual and contextualised reporting with limited emotional or partisan framing. Across outlets, the 2024 EP elections were consistently framed as less consequential, receiving reduced interpretative depth and lower issue salience than the 2022 national election. Overall, the study provides new empirical insight into Maltese political communication, revealing how media framing reinforces national priorities while shaping public perceptions of the EU. Description: M.A.(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z