Malta's EU-Arab dialogue plan'very positively considered'

Malta's initiative to take the dialogue between the European Union and the Arab League to a more visible, structured and engaged format was "very positively considered" by foreign ministers of the EU Mediterranean states meeting in Malta, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said yesterday.

Dr Frendo was speaking during a press conference on the third informal meeting of foreign ministers of EU Mediterranean member states.

He said Malta had been encouraged to continue to pursue the matter with the EU Presidency. Malta's proposal, which would create structured meetings between the foreign ministers of the EU and the Arab League, should further enrich the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, Dr Frendo said.

The meeting was attended by France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia, besides Malta, and is aimed at providing an informal platform for these member states to discuss matters of EU-wide relevance from a Mediterranean perspective.

Romania and Bulgaria will shortly also be joining the group, Dr Frendo said.

Yesterday's meeting, which followed a working dinner on Thursday, focused on illegal migration, the future of Europe and the future of the EU constitutional treaty as well as European energy policy and climate change.

On immigration, Dr Frendo said a lot of progress had been made by the EU over the past year. Immigration is now an area of special focus, he said.

"Now, we have to work for it to stay that way. Immigration and also climate change and energy security, give the EU an opportunity to make its relevance felt in the eyes of the citizens, which, in turn, is relevant to the debate about the future of Europe," Dr Frendo said.

On a practical level, he said the Mediterranean states should keep supporting European Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini in his drive to strengthen Frontex, the EU's border control agency.

Regarding energy security and climate change, Dr Frendo said Malta regards both issues as two sides of the same coin and in this respect it will be lobbying the EU to engage the Arab League in a debate on the matter.

Energy security, he added, can be dealt with through a diversification of sources. At the same time, the issues surrounding climate change are of a global nature and have to be met with international cooperation.

The meeting also discussed the EU's Neighbourhood Policy and the situation in the Middle East.