15th MEETING OF THE EU-MALTA JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

The 15^th meeting of the EU-Malta Joint Parliamentary Committee comprising Hon Louis Galea, Chairman; Hon Michael Frendo, 1st Vice Chairman; Hon George Vella, 2nd Vice Chairman; Hon Anthony Abela, Hon Evarist Bartolo, Hon Josef Bonnici, Hon Michael Bonnici, Hon Leo Brincat, Hon Chris Cardona, Hon Dolores Cristina, Hon John Dalli and Hon Charles Mangion, will be held in Malta on the 28^th and 29^th May 2001 at the San Gorg Corinthia Hotel, St Julians.

The meetings will be under the Co-Chairmanship of Hon Louis Galea for the Malta Parliament and Hon Luigi Cocilovo for the European Parliament side.

Representatives from the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, and Hon Joe Borg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, representing the Malta Government, will be making statements on the political situation in Malta and current EU-Malta relations, followed by an exchange of views.

Exchange of views will also be held by the Joint Parliamentary Committee Members on:-

• Malta's application for membership of the European Union: EU-Malta accession negotiations: current situation and future perspectives;

• Social and employment policies in the EU and Malta;

• the Euro-Med process; and

• transport and energy sectors in Malta.

Mrs Ursula Stenzel, Rapporteur of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, on Malta's application for Membership of the European Union, Mr Arhi Palosuo, the EU Chief Negotiator, and Mr Richard Cachia Caruana, Chairman, Core negotiating group, will be briefing the committee.