Towards greater regional dialogue and co-operation

The European Union's emerging maritime policy should become a solid platform for extending co-operation in the Mediterranean, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Dr Joe Borg, stated on Friday.

Addressing the theme of "Europe in a globalised world", Dr Borg was the keynote speaker at the opening in St Julian's of the four-day XXI Information and Training Seminar for Euro-Med Diplomats organised by the University's Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC).

"Now moving into a new phase leading to the achievement of its strategic objectives, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership has been the central framework of relations between Europe and its southern Mediterranean partners (and for) the region's own response to the challenges of globalisation," he said. "This has been through the advancement of political dialogue and reform, support for socio-economic development, co-operation in the field of education and culture and co-ordination of efforts to tackle the region's security and stability."

"In the difficult circumstances prevailing in the Middle East, the Partnership assumes even greater significance as a structure of regional co-operation", Dr Borg continued. A comprehensive settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution would allow the region to fully participate in today's world order and reap related benefits.

Addressing the opening of MEDAC's scholastic year at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 19, Foreign Minister Dr Michael Frendo stated that MEDAC's area of specialisation was a very important contribution to the concept of pre-emptive dialogue so greatly needed to avoid conflict in the region.

MEDAC was established in 1990 by the governments of Malta and Switzerland and recently gained foundation status. Over 300 students have benefited from scholarships offered by the academy while an increasing number of non-scholarship students are being enrolled. With the support of the European Commission, MEDAC has been organising four-day training seminars for Euromed diplomats twice yearly since 1995.