Speech given by HE Mr Joseph Zammit Tabona, High Commissioner of Malta
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you for inviting me for this event and for giving me the opportunity to exchange my thoughts with you in respect to the relations between our two countries.
The bilateral relations between Malta and the United Kingdom emanating from the joint effort in early 1800 to free the island from French occupation; the conclusion of the Treaty of Paris of 1814 under which Malta became a British colony and the role played by Malta during various wars in particular the Second World War seen as being a key strategic significance, lying between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, reached their peak on 21 September 1964 when through a civilised and peaceful process Malta attained its independence. In addition to this, the people to people relationship has always and still is very strong.
I believe that Malta’s relationship with the United Kingdom can be described as one of true and genuine friendship.
Malta and the United Kingdom have concluded many bilateral agreements covering issues such as the Avoidance of Double Taxation, Investment Promotion and Protection; and a number of Memoranda of Understanding relating to areas such as Health Services, Customs and the Combating of illicit Drug Trafficking.
The United Kingdom is an important trading partner and also remains by far the most important inbound tourism market for Malta. In 2008 Malta’s imports from the UK amounted to € 430.3 million (provisional) and exports to the UK were € 165.1 million (provisional).
Over the last decade or so, Malta has established itself as a centre for ICT technologies. This has culminated in the setting up of Smart City Malta, which is Malta’s largest ever foreign direct investment and is expected to generate over 5,600 jobs. Over the four years 2004 – 2007 total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) grew from €310.6 million in 2004 (6.9% of GDP) to €560.3 million or 11.8% of GDP in 2005. In 2006, overall FDI increased by a staggering 162% to reach €1,468 million (29% of GDP) at the end of the year. In 2007, total FDI stood at €664.2 million (11.4% of GDP) out of which €74.8 million or 10.9% originated from the UK. This represented 1.9% of the GDP.
Malta offers key benefits for investors: it forms part of the Eurozone, has an educated and motivated workforce, a well established financial services sector and a sound ICT infrastructure - all essential elements for successful long term investment.
Malta's foreign policy seeks to be a catalyst in the creation in the furthering of business opportunities, to provide the private sector with more opportunities for business networking and for export of goods and services.
This year (2009) marks the 45th anniversary since Malta attained its independence from the United Kingdom - upon which it became an independent member of the Commonwealth and the United Nations. In May 2004 Malta joined the European Union.
Since ancient times Malta has always been priced for its strategic geographic location between the northern and southern shores, in the heart of the Mediterranean. In modern times, Malta seeks to maximize this geopolitical relevance towards political and economic benefits – an interlocutor between Europe and the African continent.
As a small state and a historic meeting place for reconciliation and dialogue, Malta seeks to project the European Union's forthcoming interests towards Europe’s South of the Mediterranean neighbours. Inversely, as a state with a closeness and understanding of its southern neighbours and the Arab World, Malta seeks to be a trusted interlocutor, and a voice sensitive to their realities within the European Union.
In the context of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, Malta's characteristics are particularly valuable to enhance understanding and stability in a region that remains potentially turbulent. Malta's membership of the European Union not only further strengthens its relevance in international affairs, but also adds significant value to Malta's bilateral relations in general.
Malta foreign policy is also active in terms of its Commonwealth membership. Malta's hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005 - hence acting as Chair-in-Office until CHOGM 2007 - and its chairing of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), are a witness to Malta's strong commitment to Commonwealth values and ideals. It also signifies that in today’s global village a small island state like Malta has the capacity to continue to make a valid contribution to global challenges such as climate change and the fostering of peace and security and good governance.
Malta’s relationship with the Commonwealth is aimed at furthering development and good governance and enhancing the Commonwealth's capacity to implement programmes and policies.
Malta has intensely promoted the bridging of the digital divide through the effective use of the ICT fund and the reinvigorated CAPDD (Commonwealth Action Plan for the Digital Divide) now rebranded as Commonwealth Connects. In the coming years Malta will seek to continue to contribute towards the effective implementation of the action plan to which it has already donated substantial funds and resources including COMNET-IT.
Malta’s collaboration with the Commonwealth has also fostered a number of projects such as the small states economic resilience building project. This project in particular deals with the vulnerability of small states and the need for policies that would assist these countries to cope with their inherent vulnerability. As a result of such collaboration, an economic resilience index has been developed with in a framework that covers the essential areas of macroeconomic stability; microeconomic market efficiency; good governance; social development and cohesion; and sound environmental management.
Malta will continue to highlight the need for the international community to focus on the special characteristics and needs of Small States and will support international actions and policies that will aim to strengthen the resilience of Small States, in particular small Island States.
Through the Malta Commonwealth Third Country Programmes established in 1995, Malta has offered training to over 1500 participants from Commonwealth countries in the following areas: Coastal Management, IT and diplomacy, Insurance Management, Banking and Finance Policies for Small States, Competitive Strategies for Small States,
Freeport Operations Management and Cyber law.
The basis of Malta’s Overseas Development Policy is the notion of ‘combating poverty through development’ which ties in with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Combating poverty has to be addressed in a multidimensional way, both through the conduct of political and economic decision making as well as through social and environmental factors related to different facets such as geography, climate, culture and gender.
The eradication of poverty does not only create a more equitable world: it is also a major contribution towards a more peaceful and secure world. In Malta’s context, perhaps nothing has, in recent times, brought home the consequences of poverty and underdevelopment than the burden which Malta carries as a result of the phenomenon of mass irregular migration.
Since early summer of 2005, the Government of Malta has embarked on an intensive campaign which focused, primarily, on three objectives: 1) raising awareness on the burden being faced by the Maltese islands with respect to the problem of irregular immigration, 2) attaining assistance from international partners in line with the principles of solidarity and burden sharing, and 3) pursuing strategies and policies within the EU and other international fora which provide durable solutions to the problem of irregular immigration.
For an island state with a surface area of 316 km² and one of the highest population densities in the world, the magnitude of the problem takes a completely different dimension, particularly, when compared to the more experienced European countries of immigration. The problem of irregular immigration is an international phenomenon prompted by under development and lack of good governance in countries of origin and the consequential aspiration of people seeking a better life in countries of destination at the expense of risking their lives.
Malta’s has bid host the seat of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and believes that its geostrategic position offers a natural and ideal location for this office. More over, Malta offers and comprehensive and efficient network of regional and international air and maritime connections, modern infrastructure, high-skilled labour and a high degree of multilingualism.
Malta is also active on the environmental front, and will continue to support international initiatives on sustainable development. This, in line with its United Nations initiatives on the Law of the Sea in 1967, when on the request by Malta, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution which culminated three years later in a Declaration of Principles stating that - “the sea-bed and ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction…..as well the resources of the area are The Common Heritage Of Mankind” and the 1988 initiative for a UN Resolution on the "Conservation of climate as part of the Common Heritage of Mankind".
The effects of climate change are tangible, real, severe, indiscriminate and global requiring the international community to act together. As the date of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit draws nearer Malta calls on all states to do their utmost to make the Summit a success, a signal that serious action is being taken and a post-2010 process is agreed upon.
It is said that ‘no man is an island’, this is also true for small island states like Malta, that is precisely why Malta cherishes its role within the multilateral fora in particular within the European Union, the United Nations and the Commonwealth and strives towards sound bilateral relations such as those it enjoys with the United Kingdom.
Thank You