On June 13, 2019, Malta was one of seven EU member states to sign the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) Declaration at the Digital Assembly in Bucharest, Romania. According to the European Commission announcement, the other founding signatories were Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Spain.
By signing the declaration, the seven countries agreed to explore how to develop and deploy a quantum communication infrastructure across the EU within ten years. The planned infrastructure would integrate quantum technologies into conventional communication systems, consisting of a terrestrial fiber segment linking strategic sites at national and cross-border levels and a space-based satellite segment for long-distance coverage.
Malta subsequently assumed a co-chair role on the EuroQCI board, which comprises representatives from all signatory states. All 27 EU member states eventually signed the declaration, with the final signatory joining in July 2021. Malta’s early participation placed it among the initial group shaping the initiative’s vision and funding strategy.