MALTA AND ITALY SIGN AGREEMENT ON MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION AND REPRESSION OF CUSTOMS OFFENCES

MALTA AND ITALY SIGN AGREEMENT ON MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION AND REPRESSION OF CUSTOMS OFFENCES.

During a short signature ceremony held at the Department of Customs in Rome last Tuesday 11^thApril, Ambassador Dr. Joseph Cassar and Italian Director General of Customs, Dr. Michele Del Guidice, signed the Agreement between the Government of Malta and the Government of the Italian Republic on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation and Repression of Customs Offences.

The said Agreement provides for the exchange of information on new techniques in the implementation of customs legislation as well as for the exchange of information on new methods and practices used to commit customs offences. These exchanges will be carried out through more frequent personal and direct contacts between Italian and Maltese officials as well as through the establishment of a Joint Italo-Maltese Commission chaired by the Directors General of the two Customs Administration.

Welcoming the Ambassador, Dr. Del Guidice said that the conclusion of this Agreement means more concrete, technical cooperation between the Customs Administrations of the two countries. In reply, the Maltese Ambassador stated that the signing of this agreement was yet another reflection of the very friendly relations existing between Italy and Malta. He stressed that an important component of the Agreement was the mutual assistance in investigating not just offences by individuals but also by organized networks. Dr Joseph Cassar added that he is convinced that cooperation in such sectors will be consolidated in the near future through the conclusion of other bilateral agreements.