An international conference was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (Medac) at the University of Malta.

Three panels of speakers discussed the Mediterranean in transition, Euro-Mediterranean relations and regional dynamics in the emerging Mediterranean respectively. Speakers included Foreign affairs minister George Vella, Michael Koehler, director, EU Neighbourhood Policy, DG Devco, Bichara Khader from the University of Louvain, Ludger Kuhnhardt from the University of Bonn, Noha Bakr from the American University in Cairo, Giancarlo Kessler, ambassador of Switzerland to Malta and Klaus-Peter Brandes, ambassador of Germany to Malta.

The conference was attended by around 100 delegates, including members of the diplomatic corps, contributors to Medac over the past 25 years, current students of the academy and a number of alumni.

Medac was set up in 1990 as a joint undertaking between the Swiss and Maltese governments and the University of Malta. Some 700 graduates of the academy are today diplomats representing their countries in other countries and international organisations. There are alumni in over 40 countries in North Africa, the Middle East, eastern Europe, the Caucuses and Africa.