Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela attended the MED9 summit in Split, Croatia, on Wednesday, where he stressed the importance of making the Mediterranean a priority for the European Union.
MED9 periodically brings together the leaders of nine EU countries: Malta, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, France and Slovenia. The meetings mainly aim to address challenges at both regional and European level.
Malta and the Mediterranean among European priorities
During the meeting, Abela highlighted the Mediterranean’s strategic role within Europe and said that issues such as security, trade and climate change represent challenges that also affect the rest of the continent.
Abela also stressed the strategic importance of the Mediterranean for Europe and, consequently, called for the European Union to give the region greater prominence among its priorities. “The Mediterranean must be a European priority,” Abela said.
He also called on the European Union to reflect the needs of Mediterranean countries in its upcoming budgets, while taking into account the particular challenges each member state faces, especially those Malta faces as an island nation.
Malta and Croatia strengthen ties
On the sidelines of the summit, Abela held talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The two leaders discussed continuing cooperation between their countries and further strengthening relations in political, economic and cultural areas.
The two leaders also discussed energy, highlighting the importance of maintaining a stable energy supply and avoiding possible increases in energy prices amid current geopolitical tensions.
The Split Declaration
To conclude the summit, MED9 member states approved the Split Declaration, a final document setting out their positions and priorities on the main issues they discussed throughout the summit.
Migration also played an important role in the discussions. Participants highlighted the recent situation in Ceuta and called for a joint European Union response to situations of migratory pressure. They also stressed the importance of supporting countries facing increased migration pressure.
The declaration also addressed other challenges, including the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and European competitiveness.
Through these agreements, MED9 countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a coordinated approach to challenges directly affecting the Mediterranean and the European Union as a whole.
Journalist
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