ITALIAN MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WRITES TO MALTESE FOREIGN MINISTER

On the 15th June 2001, Rocco Buttiglione, the Italian Minister for Community Affairs wrote to Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg to thank him for his letter of congratulations on his appointment in the new Italian Government.

Minister Buttiglione assured Minister Borg that the Italian Government would continue to give its strong contribution to the strengthening and enlargement of the European Union. He stated that the Government of Italy believed that the European Union had to look to the East and to the Mediterranean. Within this context, the Union viewed Malta as the country with the most natural Mediterranean vocation.

He also stated that Italy’s continued strong support for Malta’s aspiration for European Union membership would be consolidated in the spirit of the special relationship which history, geography and common political will have created between the people of Italy and Malta.

The Memorandum of Understanding between Malta and Italy of October 2000 serves as the foundation of further steps to be taken in that direction.

Minister Buttiglione also expressed the hope to visit Malta in the near future.