JOINT PRESS RELEASE: VISIT OF MR KEITH VAZ, MP, MINISTER FOR EUROPE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, LONDON. MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER, DR JOE BORG, WEDNESDAY, 5TH JULY, 2000

VISIT OF MR KEITH VAZ, MP, MINISTER FOR EUROPE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, LONDON: MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER DR JOE BORG, WEDNESDAY, 5^THJULY 2000

British Minister for Europe, Mr. Keith Vaz, MP and Foreign Minister Dr Joe Borg, met today to discuss bilateral relations between the UK and Malta, with particular focus on Malta's application to join the European Union. The meeting proved very productive and the Ministers signed a joint statement outlining a programme of bilateral co-operation to promote Malta's progress toward membership.

The programme, the UK / Malta Europe Action Plan, is an evolving document and will be updated as further joint initiatives, currently under consideration, are agreed.

The programme covers the following areas :

EU Negotiating
Civil Service Co-ordination
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Export Control
Health and Safety
Labour and Social Policy
Justice and Home Affairs
Agriculture
Public Sector Reform
Financial Administration

During his visit, Mr. Vaz has met the President, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and in addition visited the British Pavilion at the International Trade Fair. Later today, he will call on a major British company based in Malta. Mr. Vaz will leave Malta this afternoon.

Notes for Editors

Mr. Vaz is a senior Minister in the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, responsible for EU, Europe, Council of Europe, OSCE, the Balkans, Russia, Central Asia and Transcaucasus, Defence, Security and Entry Clearance. Mr. Vaz was appointed Minister of State on 11 October 1999 and has been an MP since 1987.

British High Commission Ministry of Foreign Affairs

5^th July 2000