FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS SPANISH COUNTERPART

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg, today had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, H.E. Joseph Piqué i Camps at Palacio de Viana in Madrid. The main points of discussion centered around the priorities for the Spanish Presidency of the European Union and in particular Malta’s progress towards EU accession and the debate on the Future of Europe. During the meeting the Spanish Foreign Minister reiterated Spain’s support for Malta’s accession to the Union in the first enlargement.

On the bilateral front the two Ministers discussed means of strengthening co-operation in the economic and cultural spheres and also exchanged views on recent developments in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.

While in Madrid, Minister Joe Borg also met with Mrs Isabel Tocino, President of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Congress where talks focussed mainly on Malta’s negotiatons with the European Union.

The Minister of Foreing Affairs was accompanied for the talks by Malta’s Ambassador to Spain, Charles J. Aquilina, the Chairman of the Core Negotiating Group, Richard Cachia Caruana, the Director Bilateral Relations, Cecilia Attard Pirotta and the Director: Policy within the European Union Directorate, John Inguanez.

Minister Joe Borg is expected to return to Malta on Friday 25^th January.