Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Carmelo Abela, held talks with his Romanian counterparts on issues of mutual interest in the light of the priorities of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2017.
During a one-day official visit to Bucharest on Thursday 30th June 2016, Minister Abela held separate meetings Minister of Internal Affairs, Petre Tobă, and Minister of National Defence, Mihnea Motoc.
One of the main issues discussed during the meeting with Minister Tobă was the migration crisis in Europe, that will be one of the three overarching priorities of the Maltese Presidency. Minister Abela said that Malta was glad that, following the EU-Turkey Statement, the Western Balkan route is at the moment practically closed. “This is a remarkable achievement, but it doesn’t mean that we can afford to stop monitoring the situation on that front or to overlook other important migratory routes such as the central Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean ones,” he said. “Malta strongly believes that the way for this issue, that affects all EU Member States, to be tackled successfully is through a common European vision and strategy.” He added that the issue of security and the fight against terrorism will also occupy a very high place on the Maltese Presidency’s agenda.
On Romania’s bid to join the Schengen Area, Minister Abela noted that Romania is technically ready for accession. He added that, during its EU Presidency, Malta will work for a consensus to be reached on the issue within the Council of the EU.
With Minister Motoc, talks centred primarily around the importance of stability in the EU’s neighbourhood and the protection of the bloc’s external borders. Amongst other things, the ministers shared the same conviction that EU Member States should work together in solidarity even when a particular issue seems to directly affect only one particular region or another.
Both Romanian Ministers pedged their support to Malta in its role as President of the Council of the EU next year.
In Bucharest, Minister Abela also visited the Romanian Border Police General Inspectorate and the Police Academy Headquarters, where he was given presentations on their functions and operatons, and also had the opportunity to exchange views.