Prime Minister Robert Abela in Tunis Malta and Tunisia have a number of opportunities to roam, particularly in the energy sector. This was the main message that the Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela conveyed in bilateral meetings he had in Tunis with the President of Tunisia Kais Saied and the Prime Minister of Tunisia Najla Bouden.
In a visit to the Tunisian capital, Prime Minister Robert Abela started with a meeting with the Tunisian President at the Presidential Palace in Carthage. In talks with President Saied, Prime Minister Robert Abela pointed out how Malta is looking to continue strengthening relations and cooperation with Tunisia. Note how the two countries have common commitments and aspirations, those of stability in the Mediterranean region.
Dr. Abela pointed out that renewable energy is the future even for the neighboring countries located to the south of Malta and he referred to Tunisia as a prominent partner in potential projects that the peoples of both countries enjoy. Prime Minister Abela said that the Mediterranean region also contains challenges that we must address holistically. “With mutual respect and commitment between the European Union and Tunisia, we can turn these challenges into opportunities,” stressed the Maltese Prime Minister with the Tunisian President.
In this context the Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed the last high level meetings between the European Union and Tunisia and the ongoing discussions between the two sides on the Comprehensive Partnership Package which aims which continues to strengthen economic cooperation, cooperation on energy and immigration.
Regarding immigration, Prime Minister Abela pointed out that Malta has always consistently advocated for the need for peace and security in the Mediterranean for stability in Europe. On this theme, also with the Prime Minister of Tunisia, Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that the roots of the immigration challenge must continue to be addressed in a comprehensive way and he meant Tunisia as an important partner that also going through challenges on this issue.
With Prime Minister Bouden, Prime Minister Robert Abela pointed out that immigration is a global issue that cannot be addressed by one country or region. He also noted that in the coming weeks there will be an international conference on immigration which is looking to also address human trafficking linked to the issue of immigration.
In Tunis the leaders of both sides discussed ongoing work on agreements that in the future are intended to be signed between the two countries including in the field of energy and youth. On the latter, work is ongoing on a new agreement after the one signed 12 years ago. Prime Minister Abela also mentioned water management and explained that what Malta is doing with other small states, i.e. giving its knowledge on better management of the water resource, can be done even with Tunisia.
The two leaders also discussed the willingness of more commercial cooperation between the two countries including the opportunity of cooperation in the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. Other regional themes that were raised were the conflict in Sudan, the situation in Syria and that in the Middle East.
Accompanying the Prime Minister Robert Abela in the visit to Tunisia were also the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg, the Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri, and the Head of the Secretariat of the Office of the Prime Minister Glenn Micallef.
Photos: DOI/OPM
