Speaker Anġlu Farrugia praised regional and international organisations with a seat in Malta during a speech he made at the fifth Summit of Speakers of Parliaments of the Union of the Mediterranean.

Dr Farrugia was participating in the UfM event in Cairo, Egypt.

In his address, he noted that the summit’s topic, counter-terrorism in the Euro-Mediterranean region, was especially relevant to parliamentarians because they held a pivotal role in transposing laws, promoting parliamentary diplomacy and sustaining close cooperation with their constituency.

To this end, he welcomed developments within the European Union addressing money-laundering, cash entering and leaving the EU, and increased regulations on explosive precursors.

Speaker Farrugia spoke about the regional and international organisations that have a seat in Malta and congratulated them for their work in addressing terrorism from political, social, economic, and religious perspectives.

In this regard, Speaker Farrugia welcomed the inter-parliamentary work of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. Furthermore, he announced that this summer, the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, also based in Malta, is launching its parliamentary dimension to further advocate the role of Parliamentarians to promote religious understanding, tolerance, and peace.

The Parliamentary Assembly - Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is an inter-parliamentary organisation bringing together the parliaments of the 28 European Union member states and of 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean. It provides a unique forum to enhance regional cooperation and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region.