EU foreign ministers to focus on illegal migration

Illegal immigration will once again be on the EU agenda today as Foreign Minister Michael Frendo participates in the General Affairs and External Relations Council, in Luxembourg.

EU foreign ministers will be laying the groundwork for the EU-US summit on June 21. The summit will primarily focus on relations with Iran, the Middle East peace process, the promotion of democracy, energy, security and ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.

Relations with the Western Balkans will be discussed and in particular the recent declaration of independence by Montenegro from its union with Serbia.

The meeting is also expected to cover the security situation in the West Bank and Gaza as well as a proposed temporary international mechanism to channel assistance directly to the Palestinian people.

Malta has always reiterated its support to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict leading to a permanent two-state solution. The island continues to emphasise the fundamental role of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in establishing a viable Palestinian state that co-exists peacefully with Israel.

The Foreign Ministry said that while Malta fully supports the upcoming Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development to be hosted by Morocco in July, it is irked that Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea have been left out.

Malta is expected to insist that a date is set for another projected ministerial conference between the EU and Africa to be convened in Libya.