An Overview Of The Amended National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act

National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act

On the 14^th November 2025, a substantially-revised National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act ('NIA'. 'the Act'), overhauling and modernising Malta's domestic sanctions regime in conformity with recently-enacted EU laws. The Act transposes parts of a set of EU Directives and Regulations – namely Directive 2024/1226 (sanctions criminalisation), Regulation 2024/886 (instant euro transfers) and Regulation 2023/1113 (crypto-asset transfer information) into Maltese law. Malta has now formally adopted EU definitions of sanctions offences, while strengthening its tracing of funds mechanisms.

The NIA now distinguishes between minor breaches and serious offences. It commences by drawing a 10,000 EUR threshold, whereby breaches involving less than 10,000 EUR in funds or resources (such as a minor failure to freeze assets or a minor trade with a listed entity) are considered as administrative failures instead of criminal offences.