Malta II ministerial for EU and Arab states to be held in Egypt

Deputy Prime Minister Borg described the upcoming EU-League of Arab States ministers' meeting in Cairo, as a golden opportunity to work together and to achieve a permanent and structured dialogue.

Dubbed the Malta II, after the first meeting held in Malta in 2008, Borg underlined the importance of regular discussions between EU and Arab leaders. In this regard, he made reference to the special role of the European Commission-League of Arab States Liaison Office set up in Floriana, Malta in 2009 to launch joint projects of practical cooperation.

Addressing the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Borg cited the Malta Declaration adopted at the 5 5 Summit held in Malta on 5-6^th October, and underlined the readiness of the Arab partners "to support the people's legitimate aspirations to their political future based on democratic values, the rule of law, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, social justice and prosperity".

With regard to Syria, Ministers discussed the escalating violence and increasingly deteriorating humanitarian situation and refugees in the country which risks destabilising the entire region. In particular, Ministers also took note of the increased levels on tensions on the Turkey-Syria border. The Council restated its support to the EU/ LAS Special Envoy Brahimi to achieve a political solution. Ministers also adopted reinforced sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Ministers underlined the serious concern on the crisis in Mali and affirmed the EU's determination in coordination with regional partners to support the transitional authorities to re-establish governance and the rule of law in the country. In this regard, the Foreign Affairs Council also welcomed the work at the UN.

The Council also welcomed the appointment of Italian former Prime Minister, Romano Prodi as the UN Representative for the Sahel. Council conclusions were adopted setting out the EU's commitment to support the political process and the grave humanitarian situation.

The Middle East Peace Process was also discussed with particular focus on possible initiatives to relaunch the Middle East Peace Process as well as Palestinian initiatives at the UN. The EU's work on the two-state solution was highlighted and the EU's strong role in the process was also underlined. DPM affirmed Malta's consistent strong support to a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.

On Iran's nuclear programme, the discussion reiterated the EU's objective of achieving a comprehensive, negotiated, long-term settlement which restores international confidence in Iran's assurances that its programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. In this respect, Ministers agreed to strengthen EU sanctions against Iran.

Ministers met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and discussed bilateral issues in preparation for the EU-Russia Summit in December 2012, as well as regional security issues.

Ministers also held a session on EU development cooperation where they held a debate on preparations for the post Millennium Development Goals/2015 framework, the follow-up to the Rio 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development which took place in June 2012, and the EU's approach to resilience. Ministers adopted four sets of Council Conclusions dealing with Financing for Development; Europe's engagement with civil society in external relations social protection in EU development cooperation; and the Annual Report 2012 on EU's Development Assistance Policies and their Implementation in 2011.

Borg was accompanied by Malta's Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Marlene Bonnici.