Maltese Ambassador's intervention at the Council of Ministers' Deputies' Meeting of the Council of Europe

Malta's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Ambassador John Buttigieg, in his intervention at the recent Council of Ministers' Deputies stated that the Maltese Authorities are very pleased with the joint initiatives and fruitful co-operation between the European Union and the Council of Europe, following the 8th Quadripartite Meeting held in October 1996 in preparing joint projects in the field of co-operation in the development of democratic security in the Mediterranean area. The Council of Europe has a Pan European role and as such could be a source of inspiration for joint efforts in the Mediterranean basin with the European Union.

Two projects that have so far been chosen consist of:

1) the preparation of demographic statistics of the countries bordering the southern shores of the Mediterranean, which is of utmost importance in the study of migration problems in the region;

2) the co-operation among Euro Mediterranean States in the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.

Both projects are particularly useful in connection with the implementation of the Barcelona declaration.

A Euro-Mediterranean colloquy is to be organised by the Council of Europe and European Union with the aim of exploring the possibilities of establishing a legal framework between the member states of the Council of Europe on the one hand, and non-member states in the Mediterranean basin on the other.

Dr Buttigieg stated that the Maltese authorities sincerely believe the Council of Europe has immense expertise and know-how in dealing with the so called "third pillar matters". It can give an invaluable contribution by drawing on its vast resources and experience in a wide range of sectors such as educational and

cultural exchange, health and scientific co-operation, social development, environmental matters, dissemination knowledge, the struggle against drug trafficking and abuse, anti-corruption measures, the development of human resources, co-operation, promotion of youth exchanges and training. By strengthening the infrastructure on these subjects, which are not of a controversial nature, on the contrary people get to know each other better, the path can be laid for future co-operation in other more sensitive areas.

Ambassador Buttigieg also stated that such an important European Institution as the Council of Europe has a specific responsibility in promoting the Mediterranean dimension of European co-operation and security, and to this effect Malta will continue to play an important part both in the activity in the North/South centre and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Co-operation in the Mediterranean Basin. He urged that at the forthcoming 9th Quadripartite meeting, the co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union in the Euro Mediterranean process should be further extended and developed.

The Council of Ministers' Deputies decided to put on the Agenda of the 9th Quadripartite to be held in Luxembourg next week: "Joint co-operation between the European Union and the Council of Europe in the fields of education and culture, justice and internal affairs; the fight against racism in the framework of the Barcelona project".

25.04.97