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19.09.19 10 INTERVIEW Exciting times ahead for MASSIMO COSTA Since being appointed High Commissioner to Malta in September 2016, how have you settled in in Malta? What was the biggest "shock" of moving to Malta? is is a role which I had wanted, and it has been a very good experience. My wife and I have been and are enjoying it, and it took me no time at all time get to know many people and to settle in. Malta is a beau- tiful country, steeped in histo- ry, and the Maltese people have been very welcoming, display- ing great warmth and hospital- ity. Malta has had a very good relationship for over two cen- turies with Britain, and the two countries enjoy an everlasting friendship. And I think my ap- pointment here was going to be quite an experience regardless of the UK's ongoing EU with- drawal process, but Brexit has indeed made my job here very interesting. As you pointed out, Malta enjoys a particularly close relationship with the UK, due to our historical links. Does this make your job easier, or does it cause added challenges in terms of having to ensure the relationship is maintained and strengthened? Malta and the UK indeed have a very long-lasting, deep relationship, and this makes for a very good start for any diplomatic appointment. I firmly believe that this b-later- al relationship will get deeper and stronger post-Brexit. In this regard, I think it would be overly simplistic to say that the bilateral relationship between Malta and the UK will mere- ly return to how it was before 2004, when Malta joined the EU. Since that time, the world has changed significantly, and the issues which dominate the international sphere are now different. We now have to work very closely together on issues such as terrorism, migration, human trafficking, stability in Libya and illicit finance. And I can see an upward shift in the relationship. Our tourism-re- lated and cultural links will also be preserved and continue to thrive, but, on a diplomatic level, I also see plenty of scope to work on issues common to both countries. A very exciting time for the bilateral relation- ship is coming up. You took up your position a few months after the UK voted to leave the EU. Did you imagine, back then, that the UK would still be debating when to leave, whether to leave and how to leave three years down the line? Brexit is the most complex and sensitive issue which the UK has faced since World War II and leaving the EU after many decades of membership was never going to be easy. e newly appointed govern- ment has put in place a new dynamic, and has been very clear about delivering the will of the people, as expressed in the referendum, and leaving the EU on 31 October. e government wants to reach a deal with the EU and is mak- ing great efforts for this to happen. But, at the same time, if that's not possible then we will leave without a deal on 31 October. e government has been ex- plicit in saying that there can only be a deal if the Irish back- stop is removed from the agree- ment. e backstop would be a continuation of the applicabil- ity of EU law in the UK, and would not meet our concerns about sovereignty. Discussions are ongoing about this, and the preparatory process for a no-deal scenario has been ac- celerated to ensure people and businesses are ready. Deal or no deal, however, the departure date is 31 October. Britain's parliamentary system is generally acknowledged as being one of the best functioning and most democratic. After the past three years, with all the political resignations, defections, and new appointments, do you still believe in your parliamentary system? Just because what has been going on is politically dramatic, this does not mean the system isn't working. Yes, there is a vigorous debate but our parlia- mentary system and constitu- tion are working. I have great Stuart Gill, British High Commissioner to Malta, is adamnant the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal. He tells BusinessToday why he feels the relations between Malta and UK are only bound to get stronger in the years ahead and why he believes a very exciting time for the bilateral relationship is coming up

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