The Hon. Dr. Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta met with Claude Bartolone who was elected President of the French National Assembly on the 26 of June 2012. The Presidency of the French National Assembly is the fourth most important political position in France following the Presidency and the Executive. The meeting took place at the National Assembly in Paris where Dr. Tonio Borg is also participating in the International Ministerial Meeting on Syria.
 Deputy Prime Minister Borg is the first foreign dignitary received by the President of the French National Assembly. Both sides discussed the Arab Spring in particular Libya and Tunisia, the economic situation in Malta and the outcome of the June EU Concil conclusions. Bilateral relations between Malta and France, and the 5+5 summit to be held in Malta next October were also on the agenda. On behalf of the Speaker of the House, Dr Michael Frendo, the Deputy Prime Minister invited Claude Bartolone to visit Malta.
Claude Bartolone has Maltese roots. In his inaugural speech as President of the National Assembly, Mr. Bartolone introduced himself as ‘a son of Tunis, from an Italian father and a Maltese mother’. Claude Bartolone was elected for the first time with the French Socialist Party in 1981. He represents the Seine-Saint-Denis department. From 1998 to 2002 he served as Minister for the City.
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