The signing ceremony took take place in Valletta, Malta, in the presence of the Maltese Foreign Minister, Dr. Micheal Frendo. On the Maltese side the memorandum was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Ms. Cecilia Attard Pirotta, whereas it was Ms. Oda Sletnes, Director General of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who signed on behalf of Norway.
The Financial Mechanisms represent the beginning of a new phase in the relations between Norway and Malta, said Eva Bugge, Norwegian ambassador to Malta. We will have new opportunities to devolop ties in the sectors given priority out in the agreements. Among these priority sectors are environmental protection and conservation of European Cultural Heritage.