According to ehistorylib, in 2005, Malta had an estimated population of 400,000 people with a population growth rate of 0.2%. The economy in 2005 was largely based on tourism, manufacturing and financial services. Major exports included electronics and other manufactured goods as well as agricultural products. Foreign relations in 2005 were largely focused on development assistance with Malta receiving aid from a number of countries including the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union. The politics of Malta in 2005 were dominated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who had been elected to office in 2004 after a highly contested election which had resulted in violence between supporters of different candidates. Gonzi’s government implemented major economic reforms aimed at improving living standards for all Maltese citizens as well as encouraging foreign investment.
Yearbook 2005
Malta. Since Malta entered the EU in May 2004, more and more refugees have come to the island, most of them from northern Africa. According to countryaah, Valletta is the capital and one of the major cities within the country of Malta. Malta has Europe’s toughest asylum policy, according to the UNHCR, which in early 2005 criticized the country for its treatment of asylum seekers. In January, Maltese soldiers interrupted a peaceful protest among refugees. According to the UN, the military used unnecessary force and coercion. The asylum seekers in Malta are held in detention camps for 18 months, which is contrary to the UN guidelines. According to the UNHCR, the conditions in the camps are unacceptable.
- Also see abbreviationfinder.org for how the acronym MT stands for the country of Malta and other meanings of this two-letter abbreviation.
At the same time, Malta asked the rest of the EU for help in receiving some of the refugees. From January to November 2005, over 1,500 asylum seekers came to the small country, which with its 400,000 residents is one of the most densely populated in the world.
In May, Malta joined Cyprus and Latvia in the exchange rate cooperation ERM of the euro area countries. Membership in the ERM for two years is a requirement for countries wishing to join the euro.
In July, Malta’s parliament decided unanimously to say yes to the EU constitution.
