Ms Helga Mizzi:

I thank the Chairman and the esteemed members of the committee. I want to extend my gratitude for the invitation to me to address the committee on issues which feature front and centre on Malta's agenda, as well as on the EU’s agenda, given they will naturally have a lasting impact on the Union and its citizens. The timing of my visit to Dublin could not have been more opportune, given how our two Prime Ministers discussed many of the same issues we will be discussing today during Prime Minister Muscat's visit to Ireland on 28 November as part of a Presidency-related tour des capitales. Our Prime Ministers discussed Brexit and a raft of other matters related to the EU and it came as no surprise to many to note how like-minded our two countries are and how we both seek out solutions which are practical and European, wherever possible.

This is the frame of mind with which we are approaching what promises to be a very challenging new year. The first half of 2017 will not merely be the first EU Presidency led by Malta but it will also be the first time the EU will initiate negotiations for the withdrawal of a member state. This is a convergence that has necessitated diligent and careful planning in Valletta. Unsurprisingly, Brexit has taken up a good share of the bandwidth.

As committee members know, over the past four decades the UK has played an instrumental role within the EU, characterised by an important contribution towards shaping the Union's political thinking and strategies. Now that Brexit looms large, the UK's withdrawal from a Union it helped to shape affects not just the UK but has repercussions for all of the member states of the EU 27, including Malta. Over the years, the excellent ties, deeply-rooted in history, between Malta and the UK have fostered a relationship that transcends the political and economic spheres. This is a bond that has developed even further during the past few decades through the enhancement of our bilateral relations, as well as our relations within regional and international fora, most notably within the EU and the Commonwealth.

Similar to Ireland, Malta is keen to preserve the four freedoms for Maltese citizens vis-à-visthe UK as much as possible. We are very conscious of the fact this is going to be a crucial issue, both for the UK and for the EU. Above all, we do not see this as an issue of numbers of people but more as a matter of principle. The bottom line is that there cannot be access to the Single Market without the freedom of movement of persons. Malta is closely monitoring events in the run-up to the Brexit negotiations with a view to identifying the main areas of concern, not only for Malta but also for the EU as a whole, as well as the individual member states, with the aim of having priorities and redlines reflected in the European Council guidelines. We will be closely looking at Brexit negotiations while also bearing in mind areas of mutual bilateral interest with the UK to, hopefully, pre-empt any negative ramifications that may cascade as a consequence of Brexit.

It remains to be seen how the negotiations with the UK will develop in practice because there can be no negotiations before notification.

After Article 50 is triggered, the potential impact the UK's withdrawal may have on the bilateral aspect of UK-Maltese ties will become clearer. In this regard, Malta will try to ensure that bilateral agreements with the UK that were in existence prior to Malta's EU accession, will be kept and, if possible, reinforced in light of the developments resulting from our 12 years of EU membership.

An evident priority which Malta intends to safeguard as much as possible is the interest of Maltese nationals in the UK. There is a five generations-strong Maltese community in the UK and we will do everything within our power to ensure that their interests are duly safeguarded.

During its tenure as President of the Council of the EU, Malta will lend its good offices wherever possible and fulfil a role which is definitely not new to us - that of being a constructive and honest broker. While it would not be prudent to rush unduly, it is essential that the EU does not delay negotiations as this might lead to misinterpretation that could harm the EU's credibility. Very importantly, people living both in the UK and in the EU 27 deserve to know where they will stand following Brexit and any consequences they may experience or changes they might need to undertake.

We need to start actively planning for a life beyond Brexit even though there are still a number of questions that need to be answered. The one definite thing we can say with certainty even at this stage is that, ultimately, being outside the EU must be inferior to actual EU membership. While the EU 27 should be kept involved and informed throughout the negotiation process, it is also crucial that Commissioner Barnier, as the Commission's chief negotiator, is afforded the time and space to enable him to fulfil his role.

The UK will still be a part of Europe, whether it is inside the EU or outside it. As EU member states it will be essential that we maintain a common approach in regard to the challenges facing us and cooperate together in the interest of a Europe which is whole and free.

Recent events and the prevailing uncertainty in the international scenario have confirmed the importance of unity within the EU, which is key to safeguarding our common values and aspirations. Brexit has undoubtedly underscored the increasingly urgent need to start a serious discussion on how to make the Union better and more efficient for all EU citizens. We need to bridge the perceived gap between Brussels and the man on the street and we cannot lose sight of the fact that the EU was created for its citizens. The role of parliamentarians such as yourselves is of course vital in this regard and I am happy to confirm that throughout Malta's six-month Presidency, regaining the EU citizens' trust will be a top priority.

In this vein, I will now take the opportunity to brief this esteemed committee on some of the major priorities throughout our Presidency. Apart from Brexit, the Maltese Presidency will face a number of other challenges and opportunities. Discussions on the new concept of Europe initiated in Bratislava will continue to be taken forward during our Presidency. Within this context, Malta is currently in discussions with President Tusk's team and is making the necessary preparations in view of the summit which Malta will be hosting to discuss the future of Europe in February 2017. The Malta summit will not be focussed entirely and exclusively on Brexit.

There is an EU agenda and the Union needs to give it due consideration and look ahead. The Malta summit will therefore be an excellent opportunity for member states to gain some further traction on this new vision for Europe. It will build on the Bratislava process and lay the groundwork for Rome.

The situation in our neighbourhood remains precarious with political instability in candidate countries, violence and socio-economic problems in the southern neighbourhood, and a volatile and unstable situation in the east. The Middle East peace process, a dossier which is so close to Malta's heart as it is to Ireland's, remains moribund and seems to have stalled. Within this context, Malta will be giving substantial attention to the European neighbourhood policy, which can play a vital role in improving the daily lives of people in the region.

Irregular migration has been one of the main and most obvious consequences of this turmoil. Tackling this phenomenon in an effective manner requires a two-fold approach. We need to identify and address the root causes of migration and then also act to prevent loss of life at sea whilst destroying the network of human smugglers and traffickers. To this effect, on 8 and 9 February 2017, Malta will be hosting the Joint Valletta Action Plan senior officials' meeting, which will include the participation both of EU member states as well as African countries. This meeting is expected to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the Valletta action plan and should shed light on the way ahead for the Valletta mechanism.

Being an island, like Ireland, Malta will treat maritime affairs with a similar degree of importance, giving political guidance through an integrated maritime policy encompassing areas such as the marine environment, nautical tourism and the blue economy. The Maltese Presidency will also be giving a great deal of attention to the internal market as the Union's greatest asset, along with the concept of social inclusion.

The security of our citizens is another key issue. Over the past year, we have seen a worrying increase in terrorist attacks across Europe that are having a devastating effect on our citizens and our countries. Despite setbacks in some quarters, enlargement remains the EU’s most effective foreign policy tool in bringing about security, stability and good governance in the European neighbourhood. Malta will ensure that the western Balkans remain at the very centre of the Union’s work in this field, as it is in our interests to speed up integration so that the stability which our citizens enjoy continues to extend to the broader region.

In spite of the challenges I have alluded to, Malta remains hopeful that a bright future for the EU lies ahead. There have been several occasions in the recent past which showed that seemingly unsurmountable challenges can, in fact, pave the way for new opportunities and avenues of co-operation. The EU Global Strategy can prove to be one such example. It is now up to us to move on with its implementation and translate words into action. In today's very fitting framework, I would also like to mention that Malta shares Ireland's view that long-term plans on this front will need to keep in full view the specific security and defence characteristics of individual member states.

Having an ambitious European Union must necessitate a recognition that the importance of diplomacy, dialogue and confidence-building measures can never be undervalued. It is in this spirit that Malta will be organising an event that brings together EU foreign ministers, Southern Partners and representatives from the Gulf Co-operation Council countries in April 2017. The time is ripe for us to bolster our relationship and move towards an enhanced dialogue with our immediate neighbours and with our neighbours' neighbours. It is our intention to provide an ideal forum for a constructive discussion on issues such as culture, education, youth and inter-faith dialogue in a more intimate and relaxed environment.

Allow me to conclude now by underlining the fact that as it prepares for one of the greatest challenges in its diplomatic history, Malta will look to Ireland as a steadfast, like-minded and reliable partner within the EU. Ours is a relationship based on common values, shared histories and similar characteristics and approaches, which the committee can rest assured Malta will continue to carry forward as actively as it can.