PRES RELEASE 012

Spain and Malta agree to step up migratory policy and Southern Neighbourhood

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta, Evarist Bartolo, agreed yesterday to continue exploring areas of shared interest, such as migratory policy and the Southern Neighbourhood. After declaring the good state of relations between the two countries, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs congratulated his counterpart on Malta’s role in the 5+5 Defence Initiative and on improving security in the Mediterranean through the European Union.

February 4, 2022

During this meeting, held at the new headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, the two ministers addressed the main issues on the European agenda, particularly the preparation and coordination of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2023.

From an economic standpoint, the two ministers agreed to take the opportunity of the European recovery funds to increase trade exchanges and relations between our companies. Minister Albares particularly stressed that the Recovery Plan in Spain will help promote digitalisation, the green economy, the development of infrastructures and the agri-food industry, sectors that will open up opportunities for Spanish companies in Malta.

Lastly, they shared their perspectives regarding issues on the international agenda, such as the situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine, North Africa and Ibero-America. The Maltese minister also underlined his country’s growing interest in the continent of Ibero-America and thanked his Spanish counterpart for the opportunity of this exchange.

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