Migration on agenda of Malta meeting for Western Mediterranean foreign ministers

Migration is one of the issues on the agenda of a Malta meeting of foreign ministers from five EU countries and five north African countries.

The dialogue meeting known as 5+5 will be held between 17 and 18 January with the theme Working Together: A Sustainable Future for the Western Mediterranean.

Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela said on Friday the dialogue aims to secure closer cooperation between Southern Europe and the Maghreb countries.

“The meeting will provide an opportunity for a frank exchange of views on important regional matters that are of mutual and common interest such as the situation in Libya, the Middle East peace process, and the Sahel, as well as issues such as migration and climate change,” Abela said.

Malta is co-presiding the meeting with Algeria for a two-year period.

Opportunities for youths in the region will also be a central theme during this meeting. Abela said foreign ministers and heads of delegations will be meeting young leaders, prior to the start of the plenary session, participating in the seminar for Young Mediterranean Voices – the flagship youth-led debate programme coordinated by the Anna Lindh Foundation and co-funded by the European Commission.

Delegates will be joined by Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign affairs high representative and the secretary general of the Arab Maghreb Union.