Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia participated at the eighth tripartite meeting on maritime affairs in Greece with Minister of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic (Greece) Christos Stylianides and Deputy Minister for Shipping of Cyprus Marina Hadjimanolis, with the aim 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 largest maritime jurisdictions in the European Union.
The Ministers discussed a number of contemporary maritime issues such as environment sustainability and GHG emissions from shipping, cooperation both at international, EU and IMO level and the competitiveness of EU shipping.
During the meeting, Minister Farrugia highlighted the priorities of Malta’s policy, in the area of maritime affairs to support concrete actions to ensure a competitive EU shipping industry especially in addressing the green transition and to make shipping a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industry. He explained at length the concerns shared by a number of member states, including the three countries, on the impact that the recently adopted EU environmental legislation, particularly the ETS directive, will have on maritime jurisdictions in view of their location in the periphery of Europe and the possibility of carbon leakage which defies the original purpose of the EU wide legislation.
Minister Farrugia 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 drafted at both EU and international level. “We are committed to continuous investment in bolstering our maritime registry’s resilience and solidifying our reputation as a maritime excellence hub. This dedication drives us to enhance our collaborations with other nations. As a highly esteemed jurisdiction in the maritime domain, these partnerships ensure that our nation garners the recognition it rightfully deserves on both the European and global level,” Minister Farrugia affirmed.
In addition to this, Minister Farrugia engaged in an informal meeting with key Greek stakeholders operating within the maritime sector. Their discussions revolved around the comprehensive range of services our country offers under the Maltese flag and registry. Minister Farrugia provided a comprehensive overview of ongoing efforts to fortify our nation’s legislative framework, with a special focus on decarbonisation — a critical issue within the industry. He also elaborated on Transport Malta’s initiatives to maintain agility and accessibility for all operators.
Minister Farrugia was accompanied by Transport Malta CEO, Mr Jonathan Borg.
