Malta never accepted the Italian government’s claims on the continental shelf between the two countries, but had made concessions on parts of these claims.

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said this while answering a parliamentary question by Joe Mizzi (PL), who had asked if the provisional agreement between Malta and Italy on the median line equidistantly dividing the continental shelf between the two countries was still being respected by the Italian government, and if any request had been made for an extension of the line towards the east.

Minister Borg said that between 1965 and 1970 there had been an exchange of notes verbales without prejudice, called a modus vivendi, establishing the median line between the two countries where they faced each other.

As to the east of the median line, the Italian authorities’ claims had been registered when Italy had asked to intervene in the case between Malta and Libya before the International Court of Justice, back in 1985. The zone claimed by Italy had never been recognised by Malta, so much so that Malta had made concessions on part of these claims.

In another PQ Mr Mizzi asked Minister Borg to explain why Italy was denying Malta’s rights on the Medina Bank which was geographically lower than the provisional line between Malta and Italy. Minister Borg said it was only the Italian authorities who could tell why they had made such claims.