Major Bilateral Visits
Meetings between Maltese and Italian government representatives—also outside the framework of formal official visits—are, in line with established practice, frequent and ongoing. Below is a list of the most recent major visits:
2025
The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, meets Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of the Republic of Malta, on an official visit (Quirinal Palace, 21 January 2025).
2023
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, Robert Abela (Palazzo Chigi, 15 June 2023).
Participation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the MED9 Leaders’ Summit (29 September 2023).
2022
Participation of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in the 17th Informal Meeting of the Heads of State of the Arraiolos Group (6 October 2022).
2021
9–11 March: Visit to Italy by a Maltese ministerial delegation comprising the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo, the Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement Byron Camilleri, and the Minister for Finance and Employment Clyde Caruana, who participated in the Med Dialogues in Rome.
In addition to a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, talks were held with Ministers Luciana Lamorgese (Interior), Daniele Franco (Economy and Finance) and Roberto Cingolani (Ecological Transition), as well as with the Commander General of the Guardia di Finanza and the National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor.
2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no in-person meetings took place. However, numerous contacts were held via videoconference and telephone between the Italian Minister and the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs Evarist Bartolo, between Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, and between Minister Luciana Lamorgese and her counterpart Byron Camilleri.
2019
Meeting between Prime Minister Conte and Prime Minister Muscat on the occasion of the EUMed7 Summit of Southern EU countries in Cyprus (29 January 2019).
Visit to Malta by Prime Minister Conte on the occasion of the EUMed7 Summit in Valletta (14 June 2019).
Visit to Malta by the Maltese Minister for Sport Clifton Grima to meet the Mayor of Messina Cateno De Luca (8 July 2019).
Bilateral meeting between Ministers of the Interior Salvini and Farrugia during the informal JHA Council in Helsinki (18 July 2019).
Meeting at the Quirinal Palace between the President of the Republic of Malta George Vella and the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella. This was President Vella’s first official visit abroad following his inauguration; he also met Pope Francis in private audience (17 September 2019).
Participation of Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese in the Valletta Summit on migration (23 September 2019).
Parliamentary Secretary for Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri meets the Italian delegation of the Ministry of Economic Development led by Hon. Mirella Liuzzi in Malta, on the occasion of the Telecoms Ministerial Summit of Southern EU Countries (2 October 2019).
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela participates in the Med Dialogues in Rome (5–7 December 2019).
Minister for Energy and Water Management Joe Mizzi participates in the first annual conference on Water Investment and Financing in Rome (5 December 2019).
Fifteenth meeting of Defence Ministers of the 5+5 Initiative; Minister Michael Farrugia participates in the meetings in Rome (15 December 2019).
2018
Meeting between President Sergio Mattarella and President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca on the occasion of the 14th Meeting of the Heads of State of the Arraiolos Group in Riga, Latvia (13 September 2018).
Meeting between Italian Minister of Defence Elisabetta Trenta and Maltese Minister of Defence Michael Farrugia during the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers (30 August 2018).
Meeting between the Italian National Anti-Mafia and Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor Federico Cafiero de Raho and the Maltese Attorney General Dr Peter Grech (4 July 2018).
Meeting between Minister Moavero Milanesi and Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs Carmelo Abela (15 June 2018).
Visit to Sicily by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (12 June 2018).
Visit to Malta by Admiral Enrico Credendino, Head of Mission EUNAVFOR MED Sophia (18 January 2018).
2017
Visit to Malta by the Italian Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando (20–21 December 2017).
Visit to Malta by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on Mafia-type organisations and other criminal associations, including foreign ones (23–24 October 2017).
State Visit to Malta by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella (13–14 September 2017).
Visit to Malta by Undersecretary of State Sandro Gozi for the conference Youth for Tomorrow’s Europe; meetings with Minister of the Interior Carmelo Abela (15 May 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister Beatrice Lorenzin to participate in the round table of Health Ministers of Malta, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus (9 May 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister for Foreign Affairs Angelino Alfano (27–28 April 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti (26–27 April 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Angelino Alfano (29–30 March 2017).
Visit to Malta by Hon. Mario Marazziti and meeting with Maltese Minister of the Interior Carmelo Abela (23–25 March 2017).
Visit to Rome by Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and meeting with Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni (2 March 2017).
Meeting in Malta between Piero Fassino and Minister of the Interior Carmelo Abela (24 February 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti (8 February 2017).
Participation of Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the informal European Council Summit in Malta (3 February 2017).
Meeting in Rome between President Sergio Mattarella and President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (30 January 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando (26–27 January 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister of the Interior Marco Minniti (26 January 2017).
The Italian Ambassador to Malta hosts a meeting with Prime Minister Muscat on the priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the European Union, on the eve of the EU Summit of 3 February (26 January 2017).
Visit to Malta by Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Sandro Gozi (23–24 January 2017).
Visit to Malta by Minister of the Interior Marco Minniti to meet Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela (4 January 2017).
2016
Visit to Malta by the Italian Minister of the Interior Marco Minniti (4 January 2017).
Visit to Malta by the Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24–25 November 2016).
Visit to Malta by the Italian Minister for Education, Universities and Research, Hon. Stefania Giannini (5 October 2016).
Visit by the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council to meet Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg (4–5 August 2016).
Visit to Rome by the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela to attend the meeting of Socialist Ministers for European Affairs (15 July 2016).
Visit to Malta by the Chair of the Senate Committee on European Union Policies, Vannino Chiti (12–13 May 2016). Meetings were held with Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg, Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Luciano Busuttil, and Deputy Speaker Censu Galea.
Meeting between Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on the margins of the conference “The State of the Union 2016”, organised in Florence by the European University Institute (6 May 2016).
Visit by Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Sandro Gozi to attend the conference “From Rome to Lisbon and Beyond”. Meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Louis Grech, Ministers George Vella (Foreign Affairs), Carmelo Abela (Home Affairs) and Joe Mizzi (Transport) (12–13 January 2016).
2015
Visit to Rome by the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs George Vella to attend the Mediterranean Dialogue Conference (10–11 December 2015).
Visit by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to attend the Migration Summit (11–12 November 2015).
Visit by Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Sandro Gozi to attend the informal European Council; meeting with Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela (12 November 2015).
Meeting between Prime Minister Renzi and Maltese Prime Minister Muscat (Florence, 3 September 2015).
Visit to Malta by the Italian Minister of Defence Sen. Roberta Pinotti. Meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Louis Grech and Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela; visit to the Italian military mission (30 July 2015).
H.E. Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic – official visit to Malta (22 July 2015).
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat visits Expo Milano 2015 on the occasion of Malta Day (16 July 2015).
Visit to Malta by Undersecretary Sandro Gozi. Meetings with Prime Minister Muscat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Grech, Minister Abela (Home Affairs), Minister Cardona (Economy), and Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg (9–10 July 2015).
Participation of the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament in the commemoration ceremony of the Capaci massacre (Palermo, 23 May 2015).
Meeting in Rome between Italian Minister of Economy Pier Carlo Padoan and Maltese Minister of Finance Edward Scicluna (20 May 2015).
Visit to Malta by Italian Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfano to attend the commemoration ceremony for the victims of the 19 April shipwreck. Meetings with Prime Minister Muscat, European Commissioners Dimitris Avramopoulos and Karmenu Vella, and Greek Minister for Social Policy Theano Fotiou (23 April 2015).
Meeting in Rome between the Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Pierferdinando Casini and the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament Anglu Farrugia (22 April 2015).
Meeting in Rome between Prime Minister Renzi and Prime Minister Muscat (20 April 2015).
Visit to Malta by Prime Minister Renzi (9 April 2015).
Meeting in Rome between Italian Minister Paolo Gentiloni and his Maltese counterpart George Vella (17 February 2015).
Meeting in Rome between Maltese Minister of the Interior Carmelo Abela and Italian Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfano, and Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti (22 January 2015).
2014
Visit by Undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence Gioacchino Alfano (27–28 September 2014), on the occasion of the participation of the Italian Aerobatic Team in the International Air Show.
Visit by Undersecretary Sandro Gozi (5–6 August 2014). Meetings with Commissioner-designate Karmenu Vella, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Louis Grech, Minister for Foreign Affairs George Vella, and Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg.
Participation of Deputy Minister for Economic Development Claudio De Vincenti in the Mediterranean Energy Conference – Security of Gas Supply. Meeting with Maltese Minister for Energy Konrad Mizzi (10–11 July 2014).
Meeting between Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Manuel Mallia and Italian Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti on the margins of the conference “EU Maritime Security Strategy” (Civitavecchia, 8 July 2014).
Participation of Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Growth José Herrera in the Digital Venice conference (8 July 2014).
Meeting in Rome between Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg and Italian Undersecretary for European Affairs Sandro Gozi (20 May 2014).
Visit by Undersecretary for Constitutional Reforms and Relations with Parliament Ivan Scalfarotto to attend the second IDAHO Forum – International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (13–15 May 2014).
Visit by Undersecretary for Cultural Heritage and Tourism Francesca Barracciu to attend the conference “Facilitating Tourism to the Mediterranean through the EU’s Visa Policy” (10–11 April 2014).
Visit to Italy by Maltese Minister of the Interior Emmanuel Mallia; meeting with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano (9–10 April 2014).
Visit to Rome by the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament Angelo Farrugia to attend the conference “What Europe Stands For” (13–14 March 2014).
Visit to Malta by former Prime Ministers Mario Monti and Enrico Letta to attend The Economist conference “Invigorating Investment and Growth” (6–7 March 2014).
Meeting in Rome between Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs George Vella (6 March 2014).
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat visits Rome for talks with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and to attend the Congress of the Party of European Socialists (28 February 2014).
Visit to Rome by Maltese Minister for Economy, Investment and SMEs Christian Cardona to attend the Second European Conference of Friends of Industry; bilateral meeting with Italian Minister for Economic Development Flavio Zanonato (30 January 2014).
Meeting in Rome between Italian Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin and Maltese Minister of Health Godfrey Farrugia; signing of the joint declaration on healthcare cooperation (31 January 2014).
2013
Participation of Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs Francis Zammit Dimech in the Transatlantic Luncheon on the occasion of the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Italy (Rome, 27 February 2013).
Meeting in Rome between Maltese Minister for Sustainable Development Leo Brincat and Italian Minister for the Environment Andrea Orlando (16 May 2013).
Visit to Malta by the President of the Umbria Region Catiuscia Marini; signing of a healthcare cooperation agreement in the presence of President George Abela and Minister of Health Godfrey Farrugia (26 June 2013).
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat visits Rome for talks with Prime Minister Enrico Letta (17 July 2013).
Italo-Maltese meeting on the continental shelf at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Rome, 1–2 August 2013).
Visit by the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament Anglu Farrugia to Florence for the first General Assembly of the Italo-Maltese Chamber of Commerce (8 October 2013).
Italy–Malta technical meeting on the continental shelf; participation of Ambassador Pignatti (Malta, 14 October 2013).
Prime Minister Enrico Letta visits Malta for talks with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (10–11 November 2013).
Visit aboard the Italian destroyer Durand de la Penne by Minister of Defence Mario Mauro, the Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Binelli Mantelli, and the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral De Giorgi (11 November 2013).
Visit to Rome by Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Emmanuel Mallia for a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfano (22 November 2013).
2012
H.E. Georg Abela, President of the Republic of Malta – official visit to Rome at the invitation of H.E. Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic (20–21 March 2012).
Visit to Rome by Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg, leading an interministerial delegation; meeting with Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata (22 June 2012).
Prof. Giuliano Amato – conference “The New Economic Governance of Europe” (Malta, 20–21 July 2012).
Interministerial meeting at senior officials’ level on Italy–Malta cooperation (Rome, 4 September 2012).
Official visit to Malta by Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata (12 September 2012).
Prime Minister Mario Monti participates in the 2nd Western Mediterranean Forum (5+5 Dialogue) – Summit of Heads of State and Government (Valletta).
Visit to Rome by Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs Francis Zammit Dimech for talks with Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata (18 December 2012).
2011
Minister Joseph Cassar meets Minister Fazio (3 February 2011).
President Georg Abela visits Rome on the occasion of the celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of Italian Unification (2 June 2011).
Prof. Giuliano Amato participates in the conference “The Sovereign Debt Crisis and the New Boundaries of the State” (Malta, 8–9 July 2011).
Prof. Gianni De Michelis speaks at the commemorative ceremony for President Guido De Marco (30 September 2011).
2010
President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini visits Malta at the official invitation of Speaker Michael Frendo (20 January 2010).
Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg participates in a trilateral meeting with Italy and Libya (17 February 2010).
H.E. Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic, pays an official visit to Malta at the invitation of H.E. George Abela (30 June – 1 July 2010).
Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi meets Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Villa Madama on the occasion of the bilateral summit of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defence (Rome, 8 July 2010).
Undersecretaries Scotti and Pizza attend the funeral of former President Guido De Marco (Malta, 16 August 2010).
Speaker Michael Frendo meets the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini (Rome, 17 September 2010).
Riccardo Migliori participates in the OSCE Mediterranean Conference (Malta, 14–15 October 2010).
Guido Bertolaso participates in the PPRD South Steering Committee meeting (Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters) (Malta, 20 October 2010).
Stefania Craxi participates in the UNAOC (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations) meeting (Malta, 8 November 2010).
Giuseppe Cossiga participates in the Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the 5+5 Initiative (Malta, 1 December 2010).