It is an honour and a pleasure for me, on behalf of the people and Government of Malta, to extend to you and to the members of your delegation our warmest welcome. Your visit will continue to reinforce our deep bonds and the friendship that can be traced back to the first known exchanges between the inhabitants of Greece and Malta as recorded in Homer’s Odyssey. This visit provides us with the opportunity to re-affirm the friendship between our two peoples and cooperation between our governments. This cooperation started more than 40 years ago, to be exact on the 30 April 1966, when our countries established diplomatic relations.  

Geography has made us neighbours, sharing one sea, and has given both countries the privilege of being at this meeting place of different civilisations, benefiting from the exchanges of values, traditions and knowledge that have taken place over the centuries. Both countries are active in fora endeavouring to foster peace, stability and prosperity in our region. The fact that both countries are EU Member States, coupled with our common Mediterranean identity and our considerable maritime interests, provides the basis for cooperation at bilateral level and also within international bodies.  

Our bilateral relations are excellent and are based on a sound legal framework with eleven bilateral agreements the last of which - an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Search and Rescue – was signed in January this year. This agreement aims at improving the safety of navigation in the central Mediterranean and the Ionian Sea besides enabling both countries to work together in search and rescue missions. The Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation signed in October 2006 has now been ratified by both countries and became operative at the end of August. This Agreement is an important step forward in our relations and an essential factor for enhancing investment opportunities and trade exchanges between both countries. 

As of 1^st January this year Malta became a member of the eurozone, thus our two countries started sharing the same currency and the same monetary policy. Membership of the eurozone serves to facilitate the trade and commercial relations between our two countries that go back over the centuries when our ancestors sailed the Mediterranean in search of trade.  

Prime Minister,  

Since becoming a member of the European Union in 1981, Greece has experienced remarkable economic growth. Massive investments in industrial enterprises and heavy infrastructure as well as funds from the European Union and revenues from tourism, shipping and services have greatly increased living standards. This economic success has helped to cement strong economic ties with other countries and attract foreign investment to your shores. 

Our governments have put particular emphasis on our interaction within the institutions of the European Union and within other international organisations. We have both embarked on initiatives to promote the awareness of Mediterranean issues. The establishment of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean is a case in point. We sincerely hope that the benefits that will hopefully accrue from this initiative will be accessible to all our citizens. This initiative will identify and address a number of key challenges that remain essential for the Mediterranean region such as the bridging of the digital divide, limiting climate change and facilitating inter-cultural dialogue.  

Our responsibilities within the European Union are also accompanied by a number of challenges, one of which is the phenomenon of illegal immigration –a major concern for Malta and Greece. Our fight against illegal immigration is also a fight against international organised crime and a fight against the loss of life in our sea. Malta has registered a 50 per cent increase in immigrant arrivals compared with last year. In this respect, Frontex patrols are not only useful but need to be extended in scope and area, thus acting as a deterrent for would-be smugglers of human beings. We thank your Government for the support it extends to Malta by participating to Frontex Missions. 

As you are aware, Malta has worked continuously within the Union for a burden-sharing mechanism to be introduced in the area of illegal immigration to assist those countries that, like Malta, face disproportionate pressures on their asylum systems. We appreciate the support of Greece in this. The re-allocation system recently agreed to as part of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum that we will discuss during next week’s European Council, is one tangible example of such burden sharing.  

Prime Minister, 

Let me conclude by again expressing my pleasure at having you here amongst us. I am sure that this visit will consolidate our excellent bilateral relations.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

May I now ask you to rise and drink to the health of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic.

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