Malta's neutrality and the development of the common security and defence policy

Abstract

In the following research paper, we will examine Malta's neutrality enshrined in the Maltese Constitution and its correlation to the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). We will start by providing a comprehensive analysis on the difference between neutrality and non-alignment and how these concepts have evolved throughout the years and what role these concepts play in the Maltese Constitution both theoretically and in practice. An in-detail analysis was carried out on the Maltese Constitution, examining how the neutrality clause came to be and the challenges faced by the Maltese neutrality and non-alignment clause both on a domestic and European level, which includes Article 42.7 of the TEU and Article 222 of the TFEU. Throughout the research paper, interviews were carried out with several political figures in Maltese and EU politics to garner different understandings, perspectives, and future predictions on Maltese neutrality concerning public opinion. In this section, we can spot future political goals, both Maltese and European, which revolve around Maltese neutrality, along with analysing the Maltese public’s opinion on the issue of Maltese neutrality and non-alignment. Apart from analysing Maltese neutrality and its relation to the CSDP, we will then move on to discuss what Malta can offer to the CSDP, its limitations in contributing to the CSDP (both geographically and through its neutrality clause), and finally, the future of Maltese neutrality and criticism on state neutrality from an international relations perspective.