'Mistake' for Europe to ignore Med.

Europe should help governments of developing countries build efficient social security systems, otherwise extremist and terrorist organisations would step in to satisfy the people's needs, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said.

He was delivering the opening speech at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Conference on the theme Supporting the Reform Process in the Mediterranean, which was held at the Le Meridien Phoenicia in Floriana, yesterday.

Dr Frendo said the European Neighbourhood Policy of the European Union could help a great deal to bring about stability in the Mediterranean region.

It would be a big mistake to ignore the Mediterranean in the European agenda.

He referred to Malta's initiative to hold a structured dialogue between the EU and Arab League countries, saying the dialogue should address problems such as security, the exploitation of energy sources, climate change and development.

He said the Mediterranean and the Middle East offered the alternative energy sources which Europe needed.