By: UKOM
Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar yesterday hosted Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo on an official visit to Slovenia. The visit was aimed at deepening political and economic relations and strengthening cooperation at both the European and multilateral level between the two countries, discussing Slovenia’s potential participation in the group of Mediterranean countries, and exchanging views on other topical international issues. Their talks focused on the future of the European Union and the challenges facing the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, particularly in migration and the EU’s economic recovery.
Slovenia and Malta maintain excellent and friendly relations in all areas of cooperation, and are linked by their EU membership, adherence to European values, and the Mediterranean region. The two foreign ministers also discussed migratory flows. Located along the coast, Slovenia will actively take part in the group of Mediterranean countries MED7, of which Malta is also a member. Minister Logar thanked his colleague for Malta’s support regarding Slovenia’s efforts to join this informal group.
The pair also took time to address their common positions on key EU issues and the EU’s future functioning. They advocated more efficient coordination at the EU level between member states, and were in full agreement that the Union needs to be strengthened as a reliable and credible partner in the neighbourhood and the world. Minister Logar took this opportunity to outline to his counterpart the activities undertaken towards fulfilling the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency. The two ministers also exchanged views on the Conference on the Future of Europe, which is currently underway during the Slovenian Presidency. They also touched on EU enlargement and the Western Balkans and other topical international issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, stressing the urgent need for coordinated and concerted action of EU member states in dealing with the impact of political shifts in the country.
Foreign ministers Logar and Bartolo compared notes on migration, which will certainly increase following the latest developments in Afghanistan. They advocated the continuation of work on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum aimed at establishing a coordinated and long-term sustainable migration policy at the EU level.
In the framework of the official visit by Malta’s high officials to Slovenia, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan received Christopher Cutar, the Permanent Secretary at the Maltese Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs. Their talks focused on the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, particularly the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and the situation in Afghanistan.
Source: gov.si