Malta is to host the next summit meeting of southern EU countries, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has announced.

The meeting, to be held during the summer, will group the French President and the prime ministers of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus

The heads of government met on Tuesday in Cyprus, where they discussed issues which included migration, regional stability and growth, the drawing up of an EU digital policy, the formation of a European Labour Agency and Brexit.

On Brexit, the leaders said in a declaration that the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU remained regrettable but it was one they respected.

"We remain committed to an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU in order to guarantee certainty for citizens and businesses and the basis for an ambitious future partnership, in accordance to the EU’s own principles and internal order. We stand firmly by the Withdrawal Agreement and we intend to proceed with its ratification. We will also intensify our work on preparedness for the consequences of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal, taking into account all possible outcomes."

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said she would like to see changes to the Withdrawal Agreement. 

Read the Cyprus summit final declaration here.

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