“Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Order of Malta has been one of Ukraine’s most important humanitarian partners. It has provided food, medical assistance, shelter during harsh winters, as well as thermoses and blankets to countless people fleeing the aggression. The agreement signed today adds a new dimension to bilateral cooperation between Estonia and the Order of Malta,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.
The cooperation agreement covers healthcare, social welfare, volunteer services, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian assistance and the integration of refugees into Estonian society. Its implementation will be overseen by an evaluation committee comprising representatives of both parties. The committee will be responsible for regularly reviewing joint projects.
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta is one of the world’s oldest humanitarian organisations, dedicated to assisting the sick and those in need. The Order of Malta operates in more than 120 countries and has concluded cooperation agreements with over 50 countries and international organisations. In Ukraine, the Order of Malta has supported local communities with food and medical assistance in more than 65 cities since 2019 and has provided humanitarian aid worth nearly €80 million in total. Estonia and the Order of Malta established diplomatic relations in 2020. The Order of Malta opened its embassy in Tallinn on 29 June 2023.
