ollowing the presentation by Ambassador Martin Valentino during the first EU Heads of Mission meeting held in January 2017, concerning the main priority areas and on the external/foreign policy elements of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with special reference to the EU-South Regional Dialogue, taking place in Malta on 29^th April 2017, a working luncheon was held on 2^nd April 2017 by the Embassy of Malta in coordination with the EU Delegation in Riyadh. 

The EU Heads of Mission attended this event with the guest of honour and guest speaker being the Saudi Foreign Minister, H.E. Adel Al Jubeir, who was accompanied by high officials at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Dr. Adel Merdad, Deputy Minister for Political and Economic Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Al Aqeel, Director General, European Department and the Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Ambassador Azzam Al Qain. Regional issues and bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the Saudi Vision 2030 and the follow-up to the recent GCC meeting and the LAS Summit were discussed. The EU Head of Delegation expressed his appreciation on behalf of the EU member States for this initiative held during the Malta EU Presidency and with the participation of the Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs, at this event.