The Directorate-General focuses its efforts on ensuring that Malta’s foreign policy objectives on bilateral and regional issues are pursued, not least through active participation in the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) as well as other fora. These efforts include the preparation of positions for interventions at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), the relevant Council structures, including working group meetings. The DG is sub-divided into three Directorates, one dealing with Mediterranean and Gulf Affairs, another with External Relations and another with European Affairs.
Mediterranean and Gulf Directorate
The Mediterranean and Gulf Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism plays a pivotal role in managing and strengthening Malta’s diplomatic and strategic relations with countries in the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, and the Gulf region. This directorate is responsible for fostering bilateral cooperation in through political dialogue as well as on discussions on regional security. It also contributes to shaping Malta’s foreign policy by ensuring that the country’s interests are effectively represented in these geopolitically significant regions.
In addition to diplomatic engagement, the Directorate supports initiatives that promote trade, cultural exchange, economic partnerships, and sustainable development. It works closely with Maltese embassies and consulates in the region, as well as with international organisations and regional forums such as the Union for the Mediterranean, 5+5 and the Anna Lindh Foundation. Through its efforts, the Directorate helps position Malta as a bridge between Europe and its southern neighbours, reinforcing its role as a proactive and constructive player in regional affairs.
External Relations Directorate
In consonance with the Ministry’s strategic objective of strengthening bilateral relations, the External Relations Directorate is responsible for coordinating bilateral engagements, promoting political dialogue, and advancing Malta’s foreign policy objectives in Africa, Asia and the Americas. It also ensures that Malta’s voice is represented in regional and international organisations based in these areas, such as the African Union and the Organisation of American States.
European Affairs Directorate
The Directorate European Affairs manages Malta’s overall bilateral relations with the Member States of the European Union. It is also responsible for Malta’s links with Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, N. Macedonia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland and Türkiye as well as with the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta.
The main objective of this Directorate is to create, maintain and enhance strong and mutually beneficial ties with all these countries. Its role is to formulate and coordinate national policy in their regard so that Malta’s interests are best protected whilst its relations with its European neighbours are kept at their best possible level. The Directorate also manages official high-level visits to and from partner European countries, coordinating and helping in their organisation as required.
The Directorate European Affairs spearheads the Ministry’s bilateral European initiatives, promoting mutually advantageous exchanges at all levels and helping set in place agreements that regulate matters of everyday importance for the people of Malta and those of its European interlocutors.
In addition relations with the Western Balkans states, including the EU perspective of the countries that are yet to open EU accession negotiations, also fall within this Directorate’s remit.
