Malta, Cyprus and Greece explored on Monday ways to cooperate in promote a common strategy between the three countries in the shipping sector, during the third tripartite meeting between the three countries in Valetta, Malta.

The meeting, attended by Cyprus Minister of Communications and Works Marios Demetriades, Greek Minister of Shipping and the Aegean Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and the Minister for Transport and the Infrastructure of Malta, Joseph Mizzi, aimed at formulating common strategy in shipping.

According to an official press release issued here today, meeting`s main purpose “was to find ways under which Malta, Greece and Cyprus can assist each other in achieving their common goals in a way that could accommodate the formation of a common strategy between the three countries in the shipping sector.”

Demetriades stated its readiness to offer every possible help to the other two counties, while the Department of Merchant Shipping of Cyprus expressed its willingness to offer technical assistance and support the Ministers initiatives.

Special emphasis was also given on matters related to the pollutant emissions reduction from marine vessels, on both international and European level, while EU and International Maritime Organization’s affairs were also on the agenda of the meeting.

The three Ministers exchanged views on issues related to port competitiveness and to the social dimension of shipping.

“All three Ministers confirmed their commitment for the further development of cooperation between their countries, as three large maritime forces and stated their intention to set the foundations for cooperation in other fields of common interest,” the release notes.

Minister Varvitsiotis invited his counterparts to Greece for the fourth tripartite meeting that will take place in 2015.