Malta–Portugal relations

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{{bilateral|Maltese-Portuguese|Malta|Portugal}}

Malta–Portugal relations are foreign relations between Malta and Portugal. Malta has an embassy in Lisbon and 4 honorary consulates (in Algarve, Azores, Lisbon and Porto).

The current Ambassador of Malta to Portugal is H.E. Ms Rosette Spiteri Cachia.

Portugal is accredited to Malta from its embassy in Rome, Italy. Both countries are full members of the European Union, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Union for the Mediterranean.

State visits

Eddie Fenech Adami, visited Portugal between November 11, 2008 and November 11, 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.banif.com.mt/news-details?l=1&i=15 |title=Malta Enterprise and Banif Bank (Malta) plc sign cooperation |accessdate=2009-08-05 |publisher=Banif Bank |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722222213/http://www.banif.com.mt/news-details?l=1&i=15 |archive-date=2011-07-22 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=President on state visit to Portugal on Tuesday |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081108/local/president-on-state-visit-to-portugal-on-tuesday|quote=President Eddie Fenech Adami on Tuesday starts a two-day state visit to Portugal at the invitation of the President Aníbal António Cavaco Silva. |work=Times of Malta |date=November 8, 2008 |accessdate=2009-08-05 }} President Adamia made a two-day state visit to Portugal in June 2009. During his visit he held talks with his Portuguese counterpart Aníbal Cavaco Silva, the Prime Minister José Sócrates, and the President of Parliament Jaime José de Matos da Gama.{{cite web |url=http://www.embportmalta.com/news.asp |title=President of Malta on state visit to Portugal |accessdate=2009-08-05 |publisher=Embassy to Portugal in Malta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218083450/http://www.embportmalta.com/news.asp |archive-date=2009-12-18 |url-status=dead }}

Trade

In 2007, Antonio Russo Dias, the Portuguese Ambassador to Malta said: "I don’t think that the fact that Portugal has the EU Presidency now will be a factor in improving trade and economic links between Malta and Portugal. However there is a bilateral plan to improve these relations with the recent opening of embassies in the respective countries so, yes there certainly is the will to improve links. There might be increased awareness of Portugal through the EU Presidency but not a direct link, at least in my opinion".{{cite web |url=http://www.businesstoday.com.mt/2007/07/11/interview.html |title=Interview with Antonio Russo Dias, Ambassador of Portugal to Malta on improving links between the two countries |accessdate=2009-08-05 |publisher=Business Today }} Portuguese Banif Bank opened its first branch in Malta in 2008 and projected that it will have up to "25 more branches within five years and secure 10 per cent of the market".{{cite news |title= Portuguese bank opens with big ambitions |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080122/local/portuguese-bank-opens-with-big-ambitions |work=Times of Malta |date=January 22, 2008 |accessdate=2009-08-05 }}

Diplomatic relations

Russo Dias was Portugal's first resident ambassador to Malta, ending his mission in September 2008. According to Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, relations between the two countries had reached unprecedented levels thanks to his efforts.{{cite web

|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080613/local/portugal-malta-relations-at-all-time-high

|title=Portugal-Malta relations at all-time high

|publisher=Times of Malta

|date=13 June 2008

|accessdate=2009-08-05}}

In June 2008, the Maltese ambassador in Portugal, Salv Stellini, paid a last call on Aníbal Cavaco Silva, the President of Portugal, ending his tenure as Malta's resident Ambassador in Lisbon. Cavaco Silva thanked Stellini for his support in setting up the Portuguese Embassy in Malta, and appointed him a member of Portugal's Order of Merit.{{cite web

|url=http://www.fabiozammit.com/mfa/

|title=Embassy News

|accessdate=2009-08-05

|publisher=Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

On 11 April 2017, the new Portuguese Ambassador to Malta, Francisco Maria de Sousa Ribeiro Telles met with the President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at The Grandmaster's Palace (Valletta), to present his credentials and discuss bilateral relations.{{cite web

|url=https://president.gov.mt/media-all/ambassador-republic-portugal-presents-credentials-president-malta-marie-louise-coleiro-preca/

|title=The Ambassador of the Republic of Portugal presents his credentials to the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

|accessdate=2017-04-12

|publisher=president.gov.mt}}

European Union

Portugal joined the EU in 1986. Malta joined the EU in 2004.

Resident diplomatic missions

  • Malta has an embassy in Lisbon.
  • Portugal is accredited to Malta from its embassy in Rome, Italy.

File:Lisbon-7386 (44670519482).jpg|Embassy of Malta in Lisbon

See also

References

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{{Foreign relations of Malta}}

{{Foreign relations of Portugal}}

{{Portal bar|Politics|Malta|Portugal}}

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Portugal

Category:Bilateral relations of Portugal