Malta sets up T+1 coordination group as securities settlement deadline looms
Malta has formed a national coordination group to oversee the transition to T+1 settlement by 11 October 2027, led by the MFSA and Central Bank.
Malta is moving to a T+1 securities settlement cycle, and a national coordination group has been formed to manage the transition. The deadline is set for no later than 11 October 2027.
The group will be chaired by the Malta Financial Services Authority, with the Central Bank of Malta as vice-chair. The Malta Stock Exchange joins as a permanent technical member, given its role as the sole national central securities depository and securities settlement system operator.
Four workstreams have been identified to cover the key areas of change. These include statutory amendments and rulebook revisions, operational and market practice adjustments, systems and infrastructure adaptation, and intraday liquidity and collateral management considerations. A national testing lifecycle will also be coordinated.
The binding obligation for in-scope transactions will be settlement no later than T+1 from the October 2027 date. The coordination group is urging entities to prioritise early readiness, aligning with the pan-European schedule.
As part of the initial phase, the MFSA has called on stakeholders to designate two contact points and submit a brief participation statement. The deadline for this was set for mid-April.
For Malta's financial services community, the shift to T+1 represents a significant operational and regulatory change. Market participants need to start preparing their systems and processes now to meet the deadline.