Your Excellency, President VUJANOVIC,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you, Mr. President, for the kind sentiments which you have just expressed. It is a pleasure and an honour for me to be here in your beautiful country and to appreciate the generous hospitality with which my delegation and I have been welcomed.  In my name and on behalf of my delegation, I express gratitude for your hospitality.

Malta and Montenegro share certain characteristics: their populations are small and they are both Mediterranean States; both countries have a long and interesting history and many places of historical interest and natural beauty. These assets, coupled with the natural sense of warm hospitality which may be typical of smaller countries, are essential ingredients for success in the tourism industry which is one of the mainstays of the economies of both countries.

Since Malta became independent in 1964, it has developed an open market economy, a dynamic and modern manufacturing industry which has branched out into the high-tech sector, tourism and many service industries, especially financial and Freeport services.  In 2004, Malta acceded to the European Union and it joined the Euro zone in 2008.  It is our conviction that our Union membership and our joining the Euro zone were determining factors in Malta's ability to weather the financial and economic storm, which has hit the global economy in recent months, while continuing to attract foreign direct investment.

The recent economic and financial turmoil in Europe and around the world is still cause for concern and the European common currency has felt the effects of difficulties experienced by some economies.  I am aware that Montenegro, though not an official member of the eurozone, has adopted the euro and has a direct interest in the performance of this currency. The European Union has taken unprecedented measures to support the euro. It is our view that mechanisms need to be put in place, within the context of a more decisive integration, to make the currency stronger and able to repulse threats to its stability.  Malta favours a more united, integrated and assertive Europe as provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon which came into effect last year.

Mr. President,

Enlargement has been one of the European Union's most successful foreign policies. Currently, accession negotiations are under way with a number of states wishing to join the European Union.  The accession of new Member-States aims at bringing with it more prosperity and security to the European continent while making the Union stronger and more influential as a global player. With its 27 Member-States the EU became the world's largest economic zone. With more Member-States, the internal market would be larger and would give rise to new economic opportunities which would enhance Europe's prosperity and competitiveness. The present enlargement agenda covers the Western Balkans, Iceland and Turkey.

Malta considers EU enlargement as a positive element for the future of the Union and feels that the pace at which candidate countries move closer to the Union should continue to depend on the speed of their reform. It is equally important that the Union's enlargement be accomplished in a structured and manageable manner and within a reasonable timeframe. Malta also feels that the EU should respond positively to those countries which satisfy the conditions for enlargement and should consider the enlargement process as an instrument in external relations which provides soft pressure on any country or region to abide by democratic principles, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Malta strongly adheres to the EU Perspective for all the Western Balkan countries to be integrated within the Union. Malta believes that it is in the interest of the Union as much as it is in the interest of the Western Balkan region to speed up as much as possible the integration of this region into a dynamic Union. Such integration would help in no small way to consolidate the security and stability of the Western Balkan region.

Malta welcomes Montenegro's decision to submit its application to join the European Union and has expressed its willingness to work closely with Montenegro in fulfilling its European aspirations.  I am informed that Montenegrin senior public officers have been invited to Malta to participate in a seminar on reforms necessary to conform to EU accession requirements. With its European integration, Montenegro could play a stabilising role in the Balkan region. Malta acknowledges Montenegro's significant advancement in its preparations for European integration.

On 23 April 2009, the Member States agreed to ask the European Commission to prepare its avis or opinion on Montenegro's accession application. The Commission is currently drafting its opinion which may be presented during the course of this year. In supporting Montenegro's accession, Malta looks forward to a positive opinion by the Commission in the near future.

Mr. President,

Bilateral relations between our two countries are excellent and have been enhanced by the visit to Podgorica by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, The Honourable Tonio Borg, last April.

I am very pleased to note that three bilateral agreements between the Maltese and Montenegrin Governments, one on cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, one on tourism and one on the fight against organized crime, are going to be signed. There are various other avenues of cooperation which may be further explored such as the promotion of trade and investment; cooperation between academic institutions; and other sectors of bilateral cooperation.

I am also satisfied to note that members of Maltese business institutions are meeting their Montenegrin counterparts in a business forum.

The way is open for our two countries to consolidate what we have already built in our bilateral relations and to be proactive in searching new ways to intensify our ties.  Our economic exchanges are still in their infancy but there is certainly much scope for further development.  I am sure that the economic forum held this afternoon will be instrumental in building new fruitful relationships between Maltese and Montenegrin businesses in various sectors of our economies.

It is with this optimistic outlook that I invite all those present to stand and lift up their glasses and drink to a successful outcome of Montenegro's European Union application and to the excellent relations between Malta and Montenegro.