I would like to welcome you, Your Excellency, and your
delegation, on your state visit to the Maltese islands.
Your Excellency,
Your state visit to Malta is an occasion for us to
remember that Malta and Italy have a special bond, through our historical and
cultural heritage.
Political relations between our nations are excellent,
and in September 2014, Malta and Italy celebrated their 50th
anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations on the 21st September 1964.
Relations have been strengthened through a solid
bilateral legal framework, covering sectors ranging from education, to
healthcare, to consular matters.
An important highlight in our relations were the five
consecutive Financial Protocols, between 1979 to 2002.
Furthermore, Malta is very appreciative of the
cooperation and support the Italian authorities have provided in the past, and
we are pleased to note the signing of the new agreement on the Representation
of Malta by Italian consular authorities, in examining applications and issuing
Schengen visas,
on 7th December 2016 in
Rome.
Another important milestone in our relations is the
signing of the letter of intent on the Malta-Sicily gas pipeline project, in
May of this year. This is a welcome development for the energy sector in Malta,
following the successful completion of the Malta-Sicily electricity
inter-connector.
Let me also take this opportunity to mention the
positive relations between Malta and Italy on Defence and Coast Guard
collaboration, and bilateral collaboration at a technical level.
Where the phenomenon of migration is concerned, Malta
stands in full solidarity with Italy to help and deal with the current
migratory pressure, from the Central Mediterranean Route. During its Presidency
of the Council of the European Union, Malta kept
migration very high on the European Union’s agenda,
with this subject being one of the overarching priorities of the Presidency.
I believe that our European family of nations can play
an active role in promoting a comprehensive approach to migration, while upholding international principles and a sense
of global solidarity, to ensure that the best interests of all affected
individuals, families, and communities are met.
Such a focus, on the dignity of each and every person,
both migrants and citizens, is a cornerstone of the commitment Malta and Italy
feel to safeguard the wellbeing of all.
In fact, our continued and numerous high-level
exchanges are clear evidence of the excellent relations between our two
countries, and of the shared values and aspirations, which we hold so dear.
Therefore, I am pleased to note that cooperation at
governmental level, as well as collaboration between private entities and
non-governmental entities from Malta and Italy, has also intensified.
Such synergies continue to be enhanced as a result of
various joint-projects, held under European Union Funding
Programmes.
Italy remains Malta’s biggest
trading partner by a very wide margin, with bilateral trade exceeding a billion
Euro, year after year. Italy is also Malta’s number one import market and, as of the end of March this year, there
were 3,320 firms with Italian shareholding interests in Malta. This is by far
the largest number of shareholders in Malta from any country.
With regards to our respective diasporas, Italian nationals working in Malta make up the
largest community of European nationals in our islands. Moreover, there are hundreds of Maltese nationals
living in Italy.
Malta and Italy have always enjoyed close
socio-cultural relations. The amount of cultural events and educational
exchanges, and over 60 twinnings between Maltese and Italian towns and
villages, are a testimony to this closeness.
Therefore, Malta augurs the continued enhancement of
cultural relations between our communities.
A number of cultural agreements have been signed with
Italy over the past decades. The last one took place very recently, on the 16th August 2017, and is based on a cultural collaboration agreement
first signed in 1967.
This agreement identifies the cultural activities, and
priority lines of action, to be followed by our two countries for the period
2017 to 2019.
As Valletta will be the European Capital of Culture in
2018, Malta also looks forward to this unique opportunity, to enhance artistic
cooperation between our peoples.
Such an important event should, above all, express our
shared European values of democracy, universal human rights, fundamental
freedoms, and the rule of law. These are the major pillars upon which all our
dialogue and hopes for long-lasting peace must be built.
Before I conclude, I would like to convey a special
thanks to the outgoing Ambassador Mr Giovanni Umberto De Vito, for his
endeavours to continue to strengthen our bilateral relations.
Your Excellency, President Mattarella,
I am confident that the strong friendship between
Malta and Italy shall continue to flourish and to grow, for many years to come.
May our friendship always be a source of strength and
confidence, for the mutual benefit of both our peoples, and the prosperity of
the forthcoming generations.
Let us raise our glasses, to drink to the health of
President Sergio Mattarella, and to the people of Malta and Italy.
