Over 250 former EU Officials holding meeting in Malta this week

Malta will be hosting this year's Congress of the International Association of Former Officials of the European Union (AIACE), which will be taking place between Wednesday 30 May and Monday 4 June 2012.

Over 250 former officials of the EU Institutions will be staying at a 5-star hotel and participating in the various working sessions and meetings. Their programme, prepared with the assistance of the European Commission Representation in Malta, includes a call on the President of the Republic and a number of cultural visits. This will allow the participants to explore Malta and to familiarise themselves with the island's history, architecture and cultural treasures.

AIACE, counting almost 9,000 members, was created in 1969 by 35 former officials of various nationalities, to promote the European ideal and improve the well-being of all pensioners who previously served in EU institutions.

The Congress seeks also to provide in-depth knowledge of the member countries. The General Assembly held once a year during the Congress is attended by members of the Association coming from the 15 national sections. The first Congress took place in Luxemburg in 1970 and the most recent in 2011 in Riga, Latvia.