Blanar: Malta President to Visit Slovakia Next Year

Bratislava, 10 September (TASR-correspondent) - Malta's President Myriam Spiteri Debono is expected to visit Slovakia next year, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated on Thursday during his working visit to Malta. Blanar also announced plans to open an honorary consulate in Malta, noting that the country is visited by a relatively large number of Slovak tourists. The Slovak foreign minister held bilateral talks with Malta's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Chris Fearne, discussing, among other issues, qualified majority voting on individual proposals within the EU. "We agreed that if the big countries push for qualified majority voting only, without the possibility of a veto, it will probably mean the end of any possibility for countries such as Malta, Slovakia and others to promote our views," Blanar said. According to him, Malta and Slovakia will therefore jointly push to retain the right of veto on all issues where it is still available. The ministers also discussed illegal migration. In addition to strengthening the Schengen area's external borders and Frontex, the issue needs to be addressed in third countries, Blanar said. "In transit countries, but also in countries of origin from which migrants leave," he added. Blanar and Fearne also discussed the EU budget for 2028-2034. "We have the same position regarding maintaining cohesion policy in the budget, as well as maintaining support for farmers," Blanar said, adding that they had also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation. Although Malta is not a large country, it has achieved strong economic results. "Its economic growth is estimated at four percent. We would therefore like to make use of this momentum and seek to expand economic cooperation further," he said. Blanar and Fearne also touched on sanctions against the Russian Federation. "We understand our partners in the European Union who want to continue the sanctions policy, but our position is clear: we will not support any sanctions that have an impact on our budgets and economy. At the same time, we believe that sanctions are no longer showing any added value in terms of forcing the Russian Federation to end the war," Blanar said, adding that they had agreed on this position. On Thursday, Blanar will also be received in Malta by President Myriam Spiteri Debono and Speaker of the House of Representatives Carmelo Abela. mf