Later today, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Joe Mizzi will be hosting Mr Marios Demetriades, Minister for Communications and Works of Cyprus and Mr Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Minister for Shipping and the Aegean of the Hellenic Republic (Greece) for the third tripartite meeting with the scope of consolidating a common position on maritime affairs, both at international and regional level. Maritime issues are of paramount importance to the three countries, being the three main maritime nations in the European Union.

This follows two other similar meetings held in Greece and Cyprus respectively.

The Ministers will be discussing contemporary maritime issues, such as environment protection and green house emissions, the social dimension of shipping, and a debate on ways to further consolidate the coordination between Malta, Cyprus and Greece.

Minister Mizzi, said that Malta, Cyprus and Greece have significant maritime interests in the European Union and Malta considers that it is of utmost importance for the three countries to continue strengthening their cooperation in order to ensure that their interests are adequately represented and taken into account when policy and legislation are being formulated at both EU and international level.