The Algerian Minister of Energy, Noureddine Bouterfa, and the Chairman and CEO of the State Oil & Gas Company Sonatrach, Amine Mazouzi, on Tuesday met with Eni CEO, Claudio Descalzi, in Algiers. This latest meeting between the parties follows previous engagements in November 2015 and April 2016. During the meeting, Claudio Descalzi and Amine Mazouzi signed an agreement propaedeutic to the extension of the production licenses for the ROD reservoir, its satellite fields and three fields in Block 403. These are considered to be particularly important assets as their discovery led to the establishment in 1995 of the first Groupement Sonatrach Agip in Algeria (GSA) and marked the start of a strong partnership between Eni and Sonatrach. The renewal of the partnership between Eni and Sonatrach, enshrined in agreement, will bring about an ambitious programme of activities that will include advanced techniques for hydrocarbon recovery. The agreement also lays the foundations for the completion of the unitisation process between the SF field, where Sonatrach has a 100% stake, and the SFNE field, which is jointly operated by Eni and Sonatrach.

With this visit, Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi has renewed the hope of a cooperation ever more fruitful either by re-launching gas development activities in existing concessions in the Country and by embarking on new renewable energy activities. The aim is to further strengthen the partnership between Italy and Algeria and between Eni and Sonatrach by a development model capable of enhancing the existing facilities of Eni and Sonatrach in Algeria.

Eni has been present in Algeria since 1981 and now participates in 32 mining permits. In the period between 2010 and 2015, the company invested $11.5bn in the development of hydrocarbons in Algeria, which represented approximately 26% of the total investment made by all international companies operating in the country. Eni’s production in the country currently amounts to more than 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) unreservedly condemns the hideous terrorist attack on the Jordanian military forces, in which six soldiers and security personnel were killed and fourteen left injured.

PAM recognizes the important role of Jordan as part of the international effort to counter ISIL and all other terrorist groups and affiliates in the region. Furthermore, PAM reiterates its support to Jordan in its humanitarian commitment to assist refugees and displaced families from the Syrian conflict.

PAM takes the opportunity to call on its member parliaments and the international community to take the necessary measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organizations and individual terrorists, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015). PAM is also concerned about the current impasse as far as the peace process for the future of Syria is concerned.

PAM expresses its sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, to the Government and Parliament of Jordan, and wish a full recovery to those who were injured.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Malta, a central Mediterranean country, is one of the 28 member states of the European Union. Probably the smallest in size, demographics and political, economic and financial clout. Yet, its legacy with the United Kingdom as a colony from 1798 to 1964 places it in a privileged relationship with Great Britain, whether within the context of the European Union or not. In the Euro-Mediterranen region, Malta is the only country where English is an official language alongside the national Maltese vernacular. Malta has grown into a flourishing independent republic by adopting and adapting the British way of doing things into a unique combination of pragmatism and Mediterranean creativity. This will certainly change with the new generations having less tangible memories of the colonial times and being more exposed to continental and global affairs and pressures. 

On the above premise, whether the Maltese have a clear opinion on the upoming Brexit Referenum on 23rd June is hard to establish, although together with Ireland and Cyprus, another two countries with very close historic ties to the United Kingdom, Malta would be particularly deeply affected if the UK chooses to leave the EU. The negative effects would mainly be felt in higher export costs, as well as potential barriers to direct British investment on their territories.

At a popular level the issue follows the classical trend of the pro and the anti EU lobbies, without really delving into the nitty gritty details of the consequences this historic referendum would have for the European Union and Malta itself. 

On the political side the position is more articulated. In general both major political parties, the Nationalist Party in opposition, and the Labour Party in government, agree on pushing for Britain to remain both for economic and political reasons.  On his part Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also said that a British exit from the EU could have positive ripple effects on Malta’s financial services industry. “Malta can benefit in that financial services companies based in the City of London might be tempted to relocate to an EU member state”, he added.

The Nationalist Leader, Simon Busuttil, raised the social issue related to the rights of the Maltese relocated in the UK in case the British decide to leave the EU. Britain is a natural destination for Maltese both to further their academic studies and for working purposes. “If the British negotiated a deal at the summit that in some way diminishes social benefits rights for EU citizens working in the UK and the children, does this mean that the rights of the thousands of Maltese living in the UK will be in any way diminished?”, Busuttil is rightly asking.

But historical ties are hard to die. A bilateral agreement on social security and health between Malta and the UK has been in place since 1986, and will still apply in the case of a Brexit.

Martin Micallef

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Within the framework of the excellent relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Republic of Albania signed in Tirana a cooperation agreement.

Purpose of the agreement is to strengthen and promote the hospitaller, health care, education and disaster risk reductions projects of the Order of Malta in the country.

The agreement was signed by the Albanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odeta Barbulluschi and by the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Albania, Stefano Palumbo.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Order’s auxiliary organization in Albania, which for over 25 years has been committed to developing activities in medical, social and civil protection fields. Amongst these is the organization of first aid training sessions in schools and reaching out to around 4,000 people living beyond the reach of health care services in remote areas.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

In a Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) meeting in London, Commonwealth ICT ministers have unanimously endorsed the Strategic Plan of the CTO for 2016-2020 and the appointment of Dr Emmanuel Mallia, Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy as Chairman of the CTO for the next two years.

The CTO is an intergovernmental Commonwealth Organisation mandated in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The CTO 2016-2020 Strategic Plan focuses on ICT regulation, affordable and universal broadband, cyber security, ICT applications and the coordination of the Commonwealth in the Global ICT Agenda.

Addressing the ministers at the opening of the meeting, Baroness Scotland, the newly-elected Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, stressed on the importance of the Governments’ role in fostering ICT innovation and the sharing of experiences and lessons learnt within Commonwealth, with the aim to improve access and connectivity to ICT.

Minister Mallia underlined the importance of placing ICT at the centre of the development agenda and highlighted the way ICT is driving transformations across distinct industry verticals including health, education, financial services, transport, utilities, and more. Minister Mallia took the opportunity to share Malta’s achievements in ICT and connectivity and invited ministers to use the CTO as a collaborative platform to promote the exchange of experiences in ICT to the benefit of governments, civil society and the private sector.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs, George W. Vella, said that “In a climate where foreign terrorist fighters, returnees, terrorist financing, arms smuggling and radicalisation are daily concerns, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) provides much insight in countering terrorism through justice and rule of law”.

Minister Vella delivered a keynote speech during a celebration marking the second anniversary from the opening of the IIJ in Malta, or as it being increasingly referred to, since its launch, the ‘Malta Institute’.

Minister for Foreign Affairs recalled with satisfaction his involvement in bringing such a prestigious institute in Malta after the former US Ambassador to Malta Gina Abercombie-Wistanley had proposed the setting up of the IIJ.

Since its launch, over a thousand practitioners including lawmakers, police, prosecutors, judges, correction officials and other justice sector stakeholders, have received training at the IIJ on how to address terrorism and related criminal activities within a rule of law framework.

The event was also addressed by Robert Strang, IIJ Executive Secretary who gave an overview of the institute and Prof Alex Torpiano, University of Malta Dean for the Built Environment, who gave a presentation of the project and works being carried out in the Birgu Armoury, which will eventually house the said International Institute for Justice and Rule of Law.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

At a meeting held in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) on 8 June, the African Development Bank approved a loan of 88.85 million of Euros to Morocco for a project aimed at improving the distribution and quality of drinking water in the North African country. A statement from the Adb indicates that the Moroccan cities affected by this project will be Bouznika, Ben Slimane, Youssoufia and Safi, in addition to the basin of the river Bouregreg (SMBA artificial ventilation at the level of the dam and in the current ozonation treatment units). According to the BAD, this project will help meet 2030 requirements in drinking and industrial water of the most densely urbanized area of Morocco, with over 5 million inhabitants and about 60% of national manufacturing production. The private sector will benefit from this project, thanks to the realization of public works and through the increased volume of drinking water, which will allow industrial and tour operators to expand their economic activities. This new loan is the thirteenth operation financed by Adb in Morocco in the field of hydraulic engineering and brings the total amount disbursed to about 1.1 billion euro, making the Bank the first partner of the north African kingdom in the water sector.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Representing the Italian industry in Albania by supporting sustainable and correct an internationalization of enterprises. With this purpose was born in Tirana today the association of Italian industrialists in Albania, with which you complete the project by The General Confederation of Industry to constitute a widespread representation in all the Balkan countries. Formed from an initial group of 23 companies, large and small from all over Italy, comes to life from the experience of the representative office in the country of The General Confederation of Industry Bari-BAT, which expresses, until the first General Assembly, the presidency with Donato D ‘Agostino.

The General Confederation of Industry of Albania adheres as international representation of the The General Confederation of Industry system, which fully recognizes the code of ethics, and as an ordinary member of The General Confederation of Industry of Balkans, the federation of Italian business associations in South Eastern Europe, an organizational force that has over a thousand Italian companies that operates in support exports and to legitimize international Italian excellence.

Among the objectives of The General Confederation of Industry of Albania, which coordinates its activities in the country with the Italian Embassy in Tirana, to guide and inform the opportunities and problems of the Albanian market; facilitate the creation of partnerships, collaborations and synergies; strengthen dialogue between the Italian companies in Albania and local entrepreneurs; spreading into account the economic knowledge in Italy and consolidating the enterprise culture in the country.

Among others, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, Edoardo Garrone, former managing Squinzi under the presidency of the association internationalization development of General Confederation of Industry, Domenico De Bartolomeo, president of General Confederation of Industry Bari – BAT, and Alberto Cutillo, Italian Ambassador in Tirana, were present at the signing of incorporation in Tirana.

Despite the economic downturn, the interchange between Italy and Albania has in recent years been steadily increasing, reaching in 2015 to 2.1 billion euros. First trade partner, only Italy accounts for 59.5% of Albanian exports and is the main supplier, with an incidence of 30.6% on the import total. Italy is also the leading investor country in terms of number of Italian companies or Italian-Albanian active on the territory of 5,939 foreign companies, 2,753 are Italian, 46% of the total.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

 A loan of 500 million Euros to Tunisia, carried out on favorable terms, in order to help the country reduce its external debt and consolidate their democratic mechanisms, was approved by Parliament on Wednesday. To have access to credit, Tunisia will have to sign a memorandum of understanding with the European Commission, pledging to implement structural reforms and to pursue sound public finances.

In addition, Tunisia will have to guarantee the respect of democratic mechanisms, the rule of law and human rights, under EU supervision. Once made these conditions, Tunisia can avail the loan for a period of two and a half years.

The EU loan to Tunisia will join the 2.9 billion euro of aid allocated by the International Monetary Fund. The resolution was approved with 561 votes in favor, 76 against and 42 abstentions.

The economy of Tunisia is in serious difficulties since the beginning of the Arab Spring revolution in 2011. In 2015, the country was hit by terrorist attacks that disrupted the flow of tourists and exacerbated his already weak fiscal balance and position in credits. The growth forecast for 2016 is 0.5%, while in 2015 declined by 3%. The unemployment rate stands at 20% for women and 28.6% for young graduates; the overall average is 15%.

The EU has granted to Tunisia € 300 million of financial aid in 2014. In August 2015, the Tunisian government has asked the EU to contribute 500 million euro to a second assistance program and supplementary loans of the IMF international (FMI).

Following a vote by the European Parliament in 2016, the EU has also granted to Tunisia a temporary additional quota for imports of olive oil duty-free.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The project on the creation of a “Free Economic Zone” in Tripoli has been included again in the agenda of the Council of Ministers, after being frozen for nearly six years, following the change of government.

Located near the port of Tripoli, the special economic zone, with an area of 550,000 square meters, is expected to create new job opportunities and attract the private sector investment.

Furthermore, due to its proximity with Syria and the major cities on the coast, will help rebuild the country after the conflict.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews