Weekly News highlights

Malta has launched an international campaign to raise awareness of the problems it is facing with regard to illegal immigration. As a first step Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, at Monday's EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels, called on EU member states to offer concrete help to Malta in its efforts to solve these problems.

Malta also welcomed technical experts from Libya and all EU member states last week for talks on search and rescue operations related to illegal immigration.

The meeting, proposed by Malta, held on Wednesday, was the first of such encounters following the opening of negotiations between the EU and Libya on a long-term action plan to combat the illegal trafficking of humans across the Mediterranean.

And in Malta on Thursday for talks on illegal immigration, EU Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini acknowledged that the problem of illegal immigration in Malta had become "extremely dangerous", but took exception to claims that the EU was failing to take concrete action.

Admitting that the number of boat people landing in Malta - the biggest proportion per capita in any European country - was of concern, he vowed to provide maximum help to an island facing an immigration crisis.

Sea Malta sale expected "by August"

Grimaldi Naples was expected to carry on with the financial part of the purchase of Sea Malta on Tuesday, taking into consideration the final accounts for 2004/2005 recently approved by the Sea Malta board.

Sources familiar with the negotiations said this meant the final agreement was on track to be signed "by the beginning of August at the latest".

A considerable number of meetings were held recently between Grimaldi and representatives of industrial companies that use the Sea Malta service, as well as with the Federation of Industry and the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Former Central Bank Governor dies

Former governor of the Central Bank Anthony Galdes died on Monday, aged 74, after a lifelong commitment to the public service. Born in Valletta in 1931, he joined the civil service in 1949, serving in various departments but mostly at the Treasury and Finance Ministry.

Between 1975 and 1979, Mr Galdes was permanent secretary at the Finance Ministry and was a member of the Education Commission. He was also responsible for the planning and introduction of the two-thirds pension scheme.

He was awarded membership of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta in 1993 and a year later his name was put forward by the then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami as a possible successor to President Censu Tabone.

Mr Galdes was also chairman of the National Welfare Reform Commission and for the past 10 years was vice-chairman of the Board of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc.

NGOs White Paper approved

A white paper containing legislative proposals "intended to help the voluntary sector to establish itself on a stronger footing" was approved by Cabinet last week.

The proposals were made by Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina and the White Paper and proposed legislation will be presented for public consultation on Friday with the consultation period extending to the end of October.

So far, there has been no regulatory framework to protect voluntary organisations, their clients or society. This new regulation would ensure better accountability and transparency - an important aspect, particularly with regard to organisations involved in economic activities.

Bill to extend Malta's fishing zone approved

A bill empowering the Prime Minister to extend Malta's fishing waters and maritime jurisdiction was unanimously approved in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Bill was moved in the wake of decisions by Libya and Tunisia to extend their fisheries zone by some 62 miles.

MPs noted however that Maltese fishermen have so far not been stopped from fishing in the zones declared by Libya and Tunisia, and Malta should therefore act cautiously.

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said EU countries had protested when the fisheries zones were announced, and they had asked if Malta would join them in seeing what could be done, but at this stage Malta had opted to seek bilateral solutions.

At the opening of the debate, Dr Frendo said that the declaration of exclusive fishing zones inevitably increased the pressure on those areas that were currently open seas for fishing.

This Bill would give Malta the legal infrastructure to extend its own fisheries zone as necessary.