Malta’s financial situation was discussed today by Foreign Minister Louis Grech and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna with the European Commission vice-president Olli Rehn.

The government said in a statement this evening the meeting was held in view of the deficit which had reached 3.3 per cent by the end of last year.

The government said it felt an urgent need to explain the country’s economic and financial situation to the Commission, even following the publication of the spring economic forecast today. The Maltese delegation explained the government’s strategy to address the fiscal deficit and generate economic growth.

An agreement was reached for technical exchanges between the two sides to continue.