In preparation for Malta’s EU presidency, Transport Malta has invited the Malta Maritime Forum to put forward subject matters which the maritime industry considers Malta should promote throughout its presidency.

For this purpose, the chairman and board members of the Malta Maritime Forum held a focus meeting, hosted by Palumbo Shipyard at their premises. CEO Antonio Palumbo and general manager Josef Calleja welcomed the board of the Malta Maritime Forum and expressed their views regarding the state of the ship repair industry in Europe.

Prior to this meeting, the Malta Maritime Forum undertook a consultative programme, not only with other Maltese stakeholders but also with European maritime entities, such as the European Network of Maritime Clusters, the European Shortsea Network and Comité Maritime International.

The response was very positive and welcomed by international entities who praised the Malta Maritime Forum for taking the initiative to consult them prior to Malta’s EU presidency.  At the end of the meeting, the MMF drew up a memorandum highlighting the most salient points with the intention of presenting same to government for its consideration.

Following the meeting, the chairman and  board members were hosted to lunch in the boardroom of Palumbo Shipyards by Mr Palumbo, who extended his wishes to the Maltese government to have a successful term as president of the European Commission between January and June 2017.