Malta-Slovakia discuss cooperation

Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Dusan Caplovic, who is currently visiting Malta, had a meeting today with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg .

The Foreign Ministry said that discussed EU matters, notably the Lisbon Treaty, illegal immigration and bilateral relations.

Mr Caplovic is also the minister responsible for knowledge-based society, European affairs, human rights and minorities.

Dr Borg described Maltese/Slovak relations as excellent, with a legal framework of six bilateral agreements spelling out cooperation in the avoidance of double taxation, air services, health care, combating crime, visa abolition, and investment.

He explained that the European Union needs to further address the current asylum pressures in those member states, such as Malta, which are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their national asylum systems.

The two ministers also discussed climate change and energy security issues, which are on the agenda for next week's EU Summit.

Malta and Slovakia have seen a recent improvement in trade relations. Imports from the Slovak Republic increased from €709,433 in 2006 to €1.9 million in 2007. Exports from Malta increased from € 1.1 million in 2006 to 1.6 million in 2007.

Since 2003, Malta has seen a steady increase of tourists from Slovakia from 1,779 in 2003 to 2,252 in 2007.