Ireland to open embassy

Ireland will be the next EU member state to open a permanent diplomatic mission in Malta.

Sources close to the Irish government said the government has started its preparations through its diplomatic mission in Rome to earmark suitable premises.

The official announcement of the opening of a new Irish embassy in Malta was made by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern last month during a speech in the Irish Parliament.

While giving an overview of the discussion that took place during the EU summit last December, Mr Ahern announced that "in view of the importance of strong bilateral relations with all EU partners, the government has decided to complete its network of resident EU embassies in the 25 member states and open embassies in those countries that will accede in 2007.

"We will, therefore, open embassies in Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Bulgaria and Romania. These new embassies will play an important role in developing political, economic, social and cultural relations with our new EU partners."

Currently, all aspects of diplomatic relations between Malta and Ireland are being followed from the Irish embassy in Rome. However a spokesman for the Irish government said "now that Malta is a member of the EU, the Irish government considers it important to have a permanent presence in Malta to follow more closely both bilateral and EU relations."

On its part, Malta already has a permanent mission in Dublin, headed by Ambassador Richard Muscat.

Following Malta's accession to the EU, a number of member states opened new embassies in Malta. Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands all sent a resident ambassador.

Other EU member states are making preparations to follow suit.