With climate change as one of the main issues on the agenda, Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo yesterday described the EU-Arab League as a groundbreaking event.

During an informal press briefing, Dr Frendo said he was very enthusiastic about the two-day conference as it will be the first time that high-level officials from the Arab League meet EU ministers.

Various issues will be discussed at the today’s meeting, apart from the pressing problem of Palestine and the Middle East, including the situation in Lebanon.

The minister said that climate change will be an important debate as it will be discussed between the major producers and consumers of fossil fuels.

“Malta was very keen to have it on the agenda,” said Dr Frendo.

The major producers of fossil fuels know that it is a finite market, and that they have to start looking for other sources of alternative energy, he explained.

“They have to take note of the changing market – they can be producers of alternative energy – the desert can be harvested for solar energy,” he said.

Dr Frendo said that the meeting itself is the message, as through moderation and dialogue, existing processes between the EU and the Arab world will be revived.

He expressed his satisfaction that Malta had suggested the meeting and described it as a major success of the diplomatic channels that brought the two together.

“I am convinced that this will make a major contribution to peace and stability, because both the EU and the Arab League were looking forward to this meeting – there is already a common ground of understanding between the two,” he said.

He went on to say that this meeting will have a ripple effect on the Maltese economy and foreign investment, and added that it is important for whoever is in government to follow it up as there is still a lot work to be done.