Image source, Getty Images

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says there were concerns over the problems in Libya and the Libya troops were trained to recognise smuggling boats.

"Unfortunately the Mediterranean sea is being renamed the Mediterranean cemetery," he says.

Mr Hamilton says this is something that he would like to see eradicated with the help of others in Europe.

He says there are problems between Ukraine and Russia but at least there is someone to negotiate with, in Vladimir Putin, but in Libya that is not the case.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott raises the issue of refugees crossing the Mediterranean and the humanitarian crisis that will occur when the weather improves.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says this was a topic close to Malta's heart as it was the country lumbered most with these migrants crossing over searching for a better life.

H.E Norman Hamilton says Malta could not send them to the continent which was a burden.

Image source, bbc

Mr Hamilton says one year they received up to 12,000 people.

The most cooperation came unexpectedly from the US who took 500 people every year, he says

He says there was no or little help from the EU, and he hates to say it, it needs to help with the burden.

He says he is glad Scotland has taken in quite a few Syrian refugees but calls on the EU to do more.

Image source, AFP

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat won the snap general election he called a month ago amid corruption allegations concerning his wife.

On 4 June Mr Muscat claimed victory based on projections and the opposition's Simon Busuttil conceded.

The Labour PM called the poll on 1 May saying the corruption allegations risked undermining the economy.

He and his wife deny claims she owned a secret offshore company in Panama.

Malta - population 400,000 - currently holds the European Union's rotating six-month presidency.

Read more here.

Deputy convener Lewis Macdonald asks if for Mr Hamilton's view on Theresa May's statement.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the Prime Minister Theresa May's proposals were "below expectations" and but that will form part of the proposals.

Image source, bbc

Ms McAlpine says Malta has historic close links with the UK.

The SNP MSP raises the statement of Theresa May on EU citizens in the UK.

H.E Norman Hamilton says on 24 June 2016 at 8am the prime minister of Malta addressed the audience in English to address UK citizens in Malta to say they had nothing to fear.

Their position was made clear, they could retain their property and jobs in Malta, he says and the prime minister said he hoped the UK would reciprocate.

That position remains says H.E Norman Hamilton and he hopes for reciprocity for 31,000 Maltese people living in the UK.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has cautioned that "the devil will be in the detail" of the UK government's offer to EU nationals over Brexit.

Prime Minister Theresa May has offered "settled status" to EU migrants who have lived in the UK for five years.

Ms Sturgeon welcomed the deal "so far as it goes" but said it was "disgraceful" that it had taken a year.

UK government minister Michael Gove, visiting Peterhead, called for "mature" talks over Brexit.

Further detail is yet to emerge about Mrs May's proposal, which was unveiled at a Brussels summit and which is dependent on EU states guaranteeing Britons the same rights.

European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker has described the offer, which would apply to about three million EU citizens, as "a first step but not sufficient".

Speaking to the BBC during a visit to the Royal Highland Show, Ms Sturgeon said it was "disgraceful" that it had taken the UK government a year to come forward with any reassurance for EU migrants.

• One year on: Scotland and Brexit

Committee convener Joan McAlpine says the wide ranging achievements of Malta are very clear as are the challenges for the EU aside from Brexit.

Ms McAlpine says a theme of the presidency was bringing the EU together and asks if this has been achieved.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the 'rEUnion' was adoted because it was felt that the EU was becoming fragmented.

Mr Hamilton says, "believe it or not," Brexit brought the other EU nations together.

Image source, bbc

On 18 January Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that it was an "historic irony" that Malta, an ex-British colony, would chair the EU presidency at the time when the UK activates Article 50.

He said that remaining EU states are committed to striking a "fair deal" with the UK, but any final deal will "necessarily need to be inferior to membership".

He added that thinking otherwise would be a "detachment from reality".

He told MEPs that there was "unequivocal unity" among EU states to preserve the indivisibility of the four freedoms of goods, services, capital and people.

The Maltese PM also added that he would like to see the European Parliament be involved "as much as possible" in the Brexit talks.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the presidency authorised the opening of negotiations of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the international deceleration on fishing establishes a 10 year plan to bring Mediterranean fish plans to sustainable levels.

Mr Hamilton says several regulations have been agreed on the single market which cover digital economy, energy and climate change.

He says good progress has been made on digital single market proposals such as on roaming charges.

Mr Hamilton says "there will be no more roaming charges from 2018."

Image source, bbc

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton highlights the loss of life in the Mediterranean.

Mr Hamilton points to reform of the EU asylum system.

Until Brexit the presidency of the Council of the European Union, also known as the presidency of the European Union (EU), was taken in turn by each of the 28 countries of the European Union, according to a rotation system for a predetermined period of six months.

The order of rotation is determined unanimously by the Council of the EU, based on the principle of alternating between "major" and "minor" member states.

The presidency change takes place on January 1st and July 1st each year.

Image source, bbc

With the enactment of the Treaty of Lisbon, the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union is coupled with a stable presidency of the European Council.

The Council of the European Union meets to discuss specific subjects, and each member state is represented by a minister.

Its rotating presidency decides the political agenda and chairs the discussions between the various ministers such as the minister of finance, the minister of the interior, etc.

Malta currently has the presidency of the EU and its main theme is "rEUnion".

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the presidency's work over the past 6 months have involved a debate over Brexit.

Mr Hamilton says the priorities identified are:

• migration
• security
• Europe's neighborhood
• social inclusion
• maritme
• single market

Image source, bbc

Malta's High Commissioner in the UK H.E Norman Hamilton says Malta has the rotating presidency of the EU for one more day.

Mr Hamilton says Malta has a population the size of Edinburgh but it has steered the EU for six months.

He says Malta did not do a bad job of it at all.

Mr Hamilton says the presidency of the Council of the EU was never going to be an easy task.

That it coincided with Brexit made this even more challenging he says.

Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee, external convener Joan McAlpine introduces:

• H.E. Norman Hamilton, high commissioner, Presidency of the European Union, the High Commission of Malta to the UK
• Karl Xuereb, EU Policy Officer
• Nerissa Sultana from the High Commission of Malta to the UK

Image source, Getty Images

On 1 January 2017, Malta took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Maltese Presidency is the third of the current trio of presidencies, with the Netherlands and Slovakia preceding it.

Estonia will take over the Presidency from Malta on 1 July, stepping into the slot that would have been filled by the UK.

A key issue during the Maltese Presidency has been Brexit.

Read more of the SPICe briefing here in the committee's papers., external

The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee, external will shortly take evidence on the presidency of the Council of the European Union from:

• H.E. Norman Hamilton, High Commissioner, Presidency of the European Union, High Commission of Malta to the UK
• Karl Xuereb from the High Commission of Malta to the UK
• Nerissa Sultana from the High Commission of Malta to the UK

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs will then hear from Culture, Europe and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Finally International Development and Europe Minister Alasdair Allan will give evidence.

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 29 June 2017.

First up this morning a busy Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee.

MSPs will take evidence on the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

MSPs will then hear from Culture, Europe and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop and International Development and Europe Minister Alasdair Allan .

Image source, Getty Images

After general questions, we'll bring you extensive coverage of the final first minster's questions before the Summer recess.

Image source, PA/Scottish Parliament

MSPs will then debate the Commission on Parliamentary Reform’s Report on the Scottish Parliament.