Mr Moratinos made this declaration while in Malta together with Spanish King Juan Carlos I on a two-day visit, which came to an end yesterday afternoon.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said Malta and Spain share a special dynamic relationship.

In fact, the seven memoranda of understanding signed before the press conference, were a reflection of this and came naturally, he said.

Since EU accession, relations on political, multilateral and bilateral levels, as well as those on the basis of trade and tourism, were enhanced.

This state visit to Malta happened at a time of historic importance; the eve of the EU Spanish Presidency, the two Ministers said.

Dr Borg expressed his confidence that the Spanish Presidency will be successful and promised that Malta will remain “side by side with Spain” in matters regarding the Mediterranean and beyond.

Meanwhile, Mr Moratinos said the agreements signed show the growing relation between the two countries. Moreover, a privilege relationship was being contemplated.

He noted that this Presidency will be putting the Lisbon Treaty into motion.

Speaking of Spain’s priorities, Mr Moratinos said it will be focusing on the economy and ways to increase employment. Meanwhile, it will push for green development, and fight climate change.

However, it will also be working on the EU’s external borders so as to guarantee efficient border control and address migration.

He said Malta, like Spain, has had to face the daily landing of migrants, but this was too heavy a burden. A global approach was necessary and Spain was to work towards a common immigration policy for Europe. The issue was linked to the protection and security of EU citizens, he believed.

While the pilot project for Malta, announced in summer was in action, more concrete action was now necessary. Strengthening FRONTEX and making it more efficient was among the plans.

The agreements signed included a joint statement to strengthen cooperation between the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry in Spain and that in Malta and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Malta-Spain Joint Committee on Merchant Shipping, together with five memoranda on education and culture. These were: A memorandum of academic cooperation between the diplomatic school of the Spanish Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies at the University of Malta; a cooperation programme in the areas of culture, education and science between Spain and Malta for the years between 2009 and 2012; a memorandum of understanding on education between the Spanish Education Ministry and its Maltese counterpart regarding the exchange of Spanish and English language assistants in primary and secondary schools of both countries; and two memorandum of understanding between the Spanish Culture Ministry and the Maltese Ministry in the areas of cultural heritage and archives, respectively.

The agreements are mainly expected to enhance the people to people exchanges. Meanwhile, the archives agreement covers records of the Inquisition period, which are available in Malta but need to be preserved and studied thoroughly.

Questioned about the existent proposal to set up a Cervantes Institute in Malta, as recommended by President George Abela during the state dinner on Wednesday, Dr Borg replied financial barriers were impinging on the matter but the government was working on it. He added it was Malta’s and Spain’s priority to develop linguistic relations in the next two years.