The talks held during this visit, which is a follow-up to the meetings held in Malta with Ralf Nagel, focused on maritime affairs. Mr Galea was accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Malta Maritime Authority including chairman Marc Bonello, director general of Merchant Shipping Lino Vassallo and director general of Ports Charles Schembri.

During the meetings held with Dr Stolpe, who is a senior minister in the present German administration, both ministers agreed that there was much room for developing the close bilateral relations which have already been demonstrated at EU Council level.

Both countries have common interests, especially in sectors such as maritime safety, where they have a significant exposure to oil tanker traffic off their coast, the development of their ports as hubs for container traffic as well as the issue of port security. The ministers agreed that in order to protect European Shipping it was important that decisions taken at EU level do not drive ship owners to third country flags and that a concerted effort at international level, such as the International Maritime Organisation, is much more effective. A case in point is the new ISPS code for ship port security which came into force on 1st July. With regard to Europe’s drive for modal shift ship from land transport towards sea transport, both parties agreed that they will work together in order exchange views and experience in developing the so called “Motorways of the Seas” which are meant to develop synergised networks of maritime transport in their respective seas. This concept, coupled with the enhancement of short sea shipping, will improve transport performance and could result in increased benefits for both countries.

The Maltese delegation also held an official meeting in Hamburg at the head office of Germanisher Lloyd AG, the leading ship classification society in Germany. This organisation is responsible for many ships registered under the Maltese flag.

Discussions at this meeting centred on technical issues such as oceanography, cooperation in accident investigation and insurance. Moreover, information regarding development taking place in these fields was discussed with a view of ensuring that ships will always be of the best possible quality to ensure that safety at sea is achieved. Mr Galea left for Maastricht to attend the Informal Competitiveness Council Meeting. The rest of the delegation, led by Dr Bonello, paid a visit to Cuxhaven, a North German port where they saw the various operations performed within the premises of the Maritime emergency task force which is responsible for dealing with maritime accidents and the handling and setting up of places of refuge for stricken ships as well as maritime traffic monitoring centres.