The foreign policy of a serious country should be based on consensus where this is possible. This consensus has been reached, and while differences and divergences regarding the methods and emphasis used remain, the general objective should be agreed upon.

Dr Borg was speaking during the conclusion of the parliamentary debate which approved budget estimates for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

As an EU member state, Malta should develop in every possible dimension and its Mediterranean vocation. It should be free from military alliances, but cooperate and coordinate with the western world with which we share ideas and ideals.

The setting up of the coordination office between the European Commission and Arab League came about following the first EU and Arab League Foreign Affairs Ministers conference, which was held in Malta.

“I agree there should be more dialogue and scrutiny and will do my best to push for more dialogue on foreign policy,” he said.

European Commissioner Ferrero Waldner and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amre Moussa gave us the responsibility of setting up the office in Malta as they believe our country is the embodiment of the Mediterranean and culture.

Dr Borg believes the liaison office should develop mainly as a secretariat for dialogue between Europe and the Arab world.

The government will do its best to ensure the Union for the Mediterranean’s establishment. He noted that Malta’s credibility in the Mediterranean policy sector and the dialogue policy between Europe and the Mediterranean is apparent in the Middle East issue.

Malta has endorsed the Goldstone report, which was composed by a judge nominated by the United Nations to study accusations on war crimes and crimes against humanity which took place at the Gaza Strip.

Dr Borg said Malta is punching above its weight, on a European Union level. We also top EU statistics regarding e-governance and on-line availability, and others such as the healthy life years at birth.

Meanwhile Malta is participating in meetings on all levels, sifting through initiatives, to ensure the best advantage.

Such is the case of the Working Time Directive, in which Malta has kept its strong foothold and blocked the directive together with a group of other countries. All local political parties and unions are in agreement on such a matter, Dr Borg noted with satisfaction.

Malta has also managed to achieve a permanent derogation of keeping a zero vat policy on food and medicine products.

Malta is also working on enhancing relations with other countries including Libya, Russia, China and the United States.

With regard to Libya, the government is attempting to launch an agreement covering various subjects including fishing, migration, cultural cooperation and oil exploration. The first draft was sent to the Libyan government and Malta hopes to start negotiations in meetings later on this year and towards the beginning of next year.

Proposals on oil exploration depend in part on the reaction of the Italian government.

A convention for Maltese persons living abroad will be held in the third week of March to examine what Malta and the Maltese, managed to achieve in the past, the present and the future. The assembly should focus on Maltese language teaching as well as Maltese culture and traditions.

Meanwhile, the King of Spain will be visiting Malta next week. Six cooperation agreements will be signed.

The government is also planning to visit the Balkan region, and Serbia in particular. Discussions will focus on Serbia’s application for EU accession.

The Opposition’s reaction on developments regarding foreign affairs sounded quite positive in comparison to other debates.

However, the Labour Party’s spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, George Vella and other PL spokespersons, spoke of the need for more discussion.

“Our country needs to speak more about the foreign policy sector as not enough attention is given to the field during parliamentary sessions,” Dr Vella said.

He added that Malta is one of some five EU countries where proper scrutiny on foreign affairs does not take place. Meanwhile, there was lack of consultation with the Opposition regarding the appointment of a new European Commissioner for Malta and other top EU posts.

“Consensus would be fruitful on such matters,” Dr Vella said.

With reference to irregular migration, Dr Vella said the PL was criticised for lack of diplomacy when stand-offs between Malta and Italy took place last May.

While agreeing the issue was a delicate one, Dr Vella said it should never become a political game.

He also complained of lack of parliamentary approval on re-accession in the Partnership for Peace programme.

Dr Vella meanwhile suggested that the budget allocated for euro scrutiny and defense policy should be strengthened as its resources are very limited and it is the same as in 2007 when Malta was not a PFP member.

The Malta-EU Action and Steering Committee (MEUSAC) has much more resources than the scrutiny group within the Foreign Affairs Committee, Dr Vella pointed out. Nonetheless their work is parallel. The government was therefore to ensure that duplication of resources was avoided.

FRONTEX too needed to be strengthened as it was “a joke”, Dr Vella said.

Moreover, while Malta was facing heavy burdens brought about by the migration phenomenon, he said that no one should expect us to give more than we can.

“We therefore expect assistance and solidarity from other member states,” he added.

Speaking of the European Court of Human Right’s ruling which ordered the removal of crucifixes from Italian classrooms, Dr Vella suggested we send the European Commission a clear message that no one should try to change our cultural aspects, values and customs.

The EU gives little importance to problems in the Middle East. Meanwhile, he believed that the US policy in support of Israel was taking over.

Consequently he asked whether Malta was doing enough to influence other EU nations. He believed that although Malta was one of the few countries which signed the Goldstone report and similar studies, these were not discussed in parliament or parliamentary committees. This could be reflecting the lack of coercion on an EU level.

Labour Party spokesperson for European Affairs, Luciano Busuttil shed doubts on the budget for the Foreign Affairs Ministry and whether funds were being spent effectively. He also spoke of the need for more consultation and exchange of ideas between the government and opposition.

In the meantime, Noel Farrugia, the Opposition spokesperson for International Development Policy said that since Malta fell two places behind in the corruption rank, the government should set up a Commission to monitor what was going on.

In the coming weeks, PL will present a parliamentary motion with the aim of pushing our country forward with regards to the International Development Goals (also known as Millenium Development Goals). This speaks of targets between EU and United Nations member states to address poverty.

The strategy should be part of our peace strategy, he noted.

The estimates were carried through with a government majority.