Your Excellency,

Ministers,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Distinguished guests,

It is with great pleasure that I am here with you today to celebrate the 78th Anniversary of the Italian Republic.

Malta and Italy have a very close and friendly relationship shaped over centuries with often shared histories.  The geographic proximity and interconnectivity have resulted in bonds between our two peoples. Italy’s historical development has also always experienced a certain amount of influence on the Maltese.

During the course of the process of Italy’s unification, Malta provided a safe haven for liberal-minded “Italian” nationals who aspired to see an Italy, then fragmented under different dynasties, freed from its various foreign masters, and united as one state.  It was at this time, the time of the Risorgimento, that some of the Italian intellectual patriots dreamt of Italy as a Republic.

The Italian nationals self-exiled in Malta also exerted quite a considerable influence on Maltese society especially the intellectual and professional classes from whose midst started germinating the seeds of Maltese independence and the self-determination of the Maltese.  Of course, this took place against the background of the British domination.

Fast forward to the last century and especially after the ravages of the Second World War, the Italian people in 1946 voted that Italy establishes itself as a Republic. Concurrently our Maltese people started forging the road to Malta’s independence which was achieved in 1964, and the eventual establishment of the Maltese Republic in 1974.

The proximity of Malta and Italy also brought about strong people-to-people relationships, and this phenomenon is still with us today.  Inbound tourism from Italy to Malta totalled more than half a million tourists in 2023.  The 2023 figures are set to increase this coming summer 2024 with the introduction of new air routes.  There are 59 twinning agreements between Italian communes and local councils and these twinning agreements have further contributed to the people-to-people exchanges between our two people.

Malta’s interests as a Mediterranean state, and over the past twenty years also as an active member of the European Union, have most of the time converged with the interests of Italy.  This especially manifested itself during recent years regarding immigration, where Italy and Malta within the European Union collaborated extensively to promote the solidarity agenda, this was aimed at other European Union states to share some of the migration-related challenges that our two countries experience acutely over certain periods.  Undoubtedly, Malta has found Italy an indispensable ally in combating illegal migration within the European Union.

Italy is one of the first states with whom Malta established diplomatic relations after independence. Bilateral relations between Italy and Malta have since 1964, been excellent. Through the implementation of various bilateral agreements across most sectors during the first decades after Malta’s independence, Malta benefited from Italy’s expertise to consolidate its economy, public institutions and security. In this context I recall Italy’s declaration on Malta’s neutrality and the various financial protocols, the first one signed way back in the 1980s. Italy’s steadfast support as a guarantor of Malta’s neutrality exemplifies the strength of our diplomatic ties and the shared commitment to upholding fundamental principles of sovereignty.

Since then, cooperation between our two countries has widened in scope and touched various sectors, notably the energy sector. Also, Italy remains Malta’s most important trading partner.

Co-operation between Maltese and Italian private entities and non-government organisations has experienced a notable boost due to joint projects under EU funding programmes. This collaboration goes beyond the crucial agreements at the state level and encompasses various sectors.

Malta holds a significant presence on the global stage as a member of the United Nations Security Council and as the chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In these roles, and various other international fora, Malta remains steadfast in its commitment to peace. Unfortunately, lest we forget, the world is at present experiencing various situations of war and conflict.  While the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East understandably command much of our attention daily, it is important to recognise that numerous other troubling conflicts are occurring further from our immediate neighbourhood.

Together, through our shared dedication to diplomacy and mutual support, we can further strengthen our partnership and make significant strides towards achieving our common goals.

Excellencies

Distinguished guests,

Allow me to conclude by underlining the importance of the values ​​shared between Malta and Italy, based on mutual trust and the hope of continuing to work together for the common good. With our joint efforts, we can face future challenges with determination and solidarity, thus strengthening the special bond between our two nations.

Furthermore, I would like to extend my heartfelt greetings to President Sergio Mattarella, wishing him all the best.

Thank you and auguri