On 1st July 2007 Portugal took over, for the third time, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The priorities of Portugal’s Programme, under the motto “A Stronger Union for a Better World”, include:

• The reform of the Treaties;
• Preparing the new cycle of the Lisbon Strategy;
• The enforcement of a Global Approach on migrations and improving the protection of the Union’s External Borders;
• The Mediterranean and Africa

To discuss these and other priorities of the Portuguese Presidency, as well as Malta’s response, the Portuguese Embassy to Malta and Forum Malta fl-Ewropa organised a Public Dialogue which was held on Wednesday, 25th July 2007, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

The discussion was opened by HE António Russo Dias, the Portuguese Ambassador to Malta, who presented Portugal’s Programme and outlined its priorities for the next six months. His intervention was followed by that of the Hon Dr Michael Frendo, Malta’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who provided an insight into Malta’s reactions, perspectives and priorities. This was then followed by a question and answer session with contributions from the floor. The discussion was chaired by Dr Gabriella Pace, Chief Executive at Forum Malta fl-Ewropa.