The Government of Malta, as represented by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, made a voluntary contribution of EUR 40 000 to the Octopus Project of the Council of Europe in order to promote a global criminal justice response to cybercrime that is both effective and in line with human rights and rule of law requirements.

Malta is one of the 80 countries worldwide to have joined the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) as Party, having ratified it in 2012. Since June 2023, Malta is also a signatory of the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention, on enhanced cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence. In June 2025, on the margins of the Octopus Conference 2025 organised by the Cybercrime Division of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Presidency of Malta in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Malta has also ratified the First Additional Protocol to the Convention, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems.

The Council of Europe welcomes this timely contribution of Malta to the Octopus Project, in particular, at a time when trusted partnerships are needed more than ever.

Octopus Project webpage
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)
First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime
Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime