On January 1, Malta officially assumed the highly anticipated Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2017, with the European Union government and the Maltese government holding a day of meetings and opening ceremonies.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker paid a visit to the President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.
The President stated that the people of Malta should be proud to take on this important responsibility. As a small nation, Malta has consistently demonstrated great ambition in rapidly developing its economy, promoting its culture, and attracting tourists and business investment from around the world.
Members of the Maltese Cabinet gathered at the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta to meet with the visiting European Commissioners. In the afternoon, the two leaders participated in a press conference marking Malta's 2017 Presidency.
Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has historically enjoyed the strategic geographical advantage of being a fortress of Europe. Its history as a former British colony has also given it a closer connection to the United Kingdom compared to other European nations. In the current era of Brexit, Malta's irreplaceable status, both within the European Union and the Commonwealth, is clearly evident.