“Now, more than ever, as members of the EU, Malta is committed to collaborate with all its Mediterranean partners, among whom are Greece and Cyprus, to further develop the concept of motorways of the sea for the benefit of both the port and the shipping sectors of the maritime industry, which would guarantee economic growth both domestically and in the region”.

This was underlined by Mr Galea during official meetings with his Greek and Cypriot

counterparts, Mr Manolis Kefaloyiannis and Mr Harris Thrassou. The concept of motorways of the sea is intended to promote inter-modal transport links with the maritime transport of cargo and ferry passengers, through effective short shipping routes.

In the recent proposals by the EU Commission for the setting up of four motorways of the sea around EU waters, which were approved by the EU Council of Ministers in December 2003, Malta was grouped with Spain, France and Italy on the Western Mediterranean Motorway of the Sea, while Cyprus was grouped with Greece, Slovenia, Turkey and the Black Sea countries

on the Eastern Mediterranean Motorway of the Sea.

The bilateral talks also focused on other areas of discussion and cooperation directly related to the maritime industry, as well

as the current developments which provide a further potential

attraction to the industry.

Yesterday, Mr Galea visited the Malta stand at the Posidonia 2004 exposition in Piraeus.

The stand, coordinated by the Malta Maritime Authority and Malta Shipyards as co-exhibitors, also involves the participation of Malta Freeport and Tug Malta Ltd.

The Posidonia international exhibition is held every two years.

It is one of the shipping industry’s most important and influential events and attracts hundreds of exhibitors from countries around the world.

“Posidonia is an important event for Maritime Malta. Bringing together all the key players within the merchant shipping industry, Malta, the second largest flag in Europe, and the fifth in the world, aims at establishing further its endeavours in the field, while giving particular focus to developing further maritime projects along the motorways of the sea,” stressed the Minister. “We will be setting up informal technical meetings in the coming weeks with our Greek and Cypriot counterparts to further discuss this proposal, which could establish Malta as a vital port for shipping operations within the Mediterranean, in providing one of the main gateways to Europe,” he said.

The minister is assisted on his visit by Malta Maritime Authority chairman Marc Bonello and MMA executive director of

merchant shipping, Lino Vassallo.