Italy mulls Malta proposal for joint oil exploration

Malta has proposed joint oil exploration with Italy on prospects within the contested zones of the Continental Shelf.

The proposal was made last week in Rome by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg who was hosted at the Farnesina by his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi di Sant' Agata.

Senior foreign office officials told MaltaToday that Rome has agreed to have the proposal discussed within the framework of the newly-set up Malta-Italy mixed commission which is expected to meet in Malta in September. Terzi is expected in Malta for the meeting.

During his talks in Rome, Tonio Borg secured Italy's support for Malta hosting the 5 5 Euro-Mediterranean Heads of Government meeting to be held on 5-6 October. Both sides also discussed issues related to the controversial Search and Rescue (SAR) region handled by Malta.

The high-level delegation led by Tonio Borg in Rome was also composed of Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Armed Forces Commander Brig. Martin Xuereb and officials from the health ministry and Resources Authority (MRA).

The talks between Malta and Italy represent a new front in a discussion that has been going on for decades. In October 2011, Italy had formally protested when Malta issued a call for tenders for oil exploration in the Ionian Sea.

On that occasion, Borg had downplayed the incident, arguing that such protests were normal, and that Malta had similarly protested when Italy issued its exploration blocks.

"Notwithstanding these protests, no effective drilling is taking place on any of the contested areas by Malta and Italy," the minister had said in 2011. "These are normal issues between two neighbouring countries. Our relations are excellent, but obviously both sides take their national interest at heart, so if one looks at reality, we both protest over the same thing, but nobody is effectively drilling in the contested areas as long as we still have disagreements," Borg had said.

In January 2011, the government of Malta had issued a formal letter of protest to Italy over concessions granted for oil exploration in part of the continental shelf around the islands of Pantelleria, Linosa and Lampedusa.

The reason for the protest is that Malta recognises part of the continental shelf as its own national territory.