Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, Ian Borg has today participated in the 10th edition of the Bled Strategic Forum in Ljubljana – a forum organized by the Slovenian Government. The list of participants in this forum included President of the European Council Donald Tusk as well as various other ministers across all Member States.
Dr Borg took part in the ‘Bridges of the Mediterranean’ panel. Dr Borg said that intercultural dialogue based on shared values and mutual respect among the citizens of the Mediterranean countries remains an important tool for bridging the gap between countries on the opposite coasts of the Mediterranean Sea.
Dr Borg also spoke in particular about the revised European Neighbourhood Policy and said that Malta will be welcoming fresh proposals about that, and which are being anticipated this autumn. While referring to Malta’s Presidency of the EU Council in 2017, he reiterated the fact that this will inevitably be an issue that would feature high on the agenda of the TRIO programme.
He also spoke about the situation in Libya and welcomed the work of UN special Representative Leon in his effort to bring about a resolution to the difficulties being faced in this particular country.
Various other speakers also spoke as well about the forthcoming EU-Africa summit which will take place in Malta this coming November at the invitation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Dr. Borg reiterated Malta’s position that when tackling issues such as migration, Mediterranean countries should be regarded as part of the solution and not the problem. All this confirms Malta’s commitment towards bridging intercultural communication channels between both shores of the Mediterranean, said Parliamentary Secretary Borg. Once again, Malta will be the centre of such a dialogue, Dr. Borg remarked in his concluding comments.
Dr Borg was accompanied by Ambassador Victor Camilleri.