President of the Parliament of Malta Angelo Farrugia has said that his country shares the same approach as Cyprus on the issue of immigration. Farrugia is paying Cyprus a visit at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou, with whom he held a meeting on Friday. Demetriou said that the challenges require enhanced cooperation and increased solidarity, especially between member states with the same characteristics.

According to a press release by the House of Representatives,  Farrugia has participated in the celebrations organized by the House of Representatives for the 20th anniversary since the accession of Cyprus and nine other countries, including Malta, to the European Union.

During a meeting they held Friday, the Cypriot House President referred to the close cooperation of the two Parliaments at  bilateral, European and international level, as well as the prospects for further strengthening those relations in order to address the common challenges and highlight the important role that the Parliaments of small states can play in the management of key issues, such as immigration, in the context of parliamentary diplomacy.

She said that those challenges require enhanced cooperation, coordinated action and increased solidarity, especially between member states with the same characteristics.

The Maltese official noted the common approach of the two countries regarding immigration and other issues of EU concern. He also stressed the importance of joining forces to ensure equal treatment of all EU member states.

Moreover, Farrugia expressed his country's appreciation for the initiative taken by the Republic of Cyprus, through the "Amalthia" project, for the transfer of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

Referring to the inter-parliamentary relations between Malta and Cyprus, he expressed satisfaction with the recent establishment of Friendship Groups in the two Parliaments. 

Both Presidents, the press release says, expressed the will and readiness of their Parliaments to intensify the dialogue and exchanges, both at the level of the Friendship Groups as well as at various other levels.