Portugal wants embassy in Malta

Portugal said it planned to open a diplomatic mission in Malta next year.

The announcement was made by the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs Diego Feritas Dos Amaral during a budget debate in the Portuguese Parliament.

Mr De Amaral said that apart from an embassy in Malta, Portugal will also be opening several other diplomatic missions in other EU member states where it is not yet represented. These included new missions in Slovenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All diplomatic relations with Malta are handled by the Portuguese embassy in Rome.

Since Malta joined the EU, many member states declared their intention to open diplomatic missions on the island. The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain opened embassies in Malta last year. Earlier this year Ireland also announced it will soon be opening a permanent representation in Malta.

Malta does not have an embassy in Lisbon and all diplomatic relations are handled by the Maltese embassy in Spain. Ambassador Salv Stellini is Malta's designate ambassador to Portugal.