Foreign Minister Michael Frendo met Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini at a meeting on the margins of the European Council, held on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

Minister Fini agreed to Minister Frendo’s proposal for a yearly foreign ministers meeting between Italy and Malta to discuss issues of mutual interest relating to their bilateral relations, the European Union and the Mediterranean. The bilateral meeting is expected to take place in Malta in the first half of next year.

A similar initiative has been agreed to with Tunisia as part of Dr Frendo’s initiative to establish annual political consultation meetings with neighbouring countries.

The ministers discussed various matters of mutual interest including possible cooperation between Malta and Italy within international fora, the promotion of the Italian language and culture in Malta, the furthering of the presence of the University of Malta campus in Rome as well as the delineation of the median line between Malta and Italy.

Following the European Council meeting, where he accompanied the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Frendo started an official visit in Egypt.