Edited sentence: However there is a bilateral plan to improve these relations with the recent opening of embassies in the respective countries so, yes there certainly is the will to improve links.In 2007 Antonio Russo Dias, the Portuguese Ambassador to Malta said:  "I don’t think that the fact that Portugal has the EU Presidency now will be a factor in improving trade and economic links between Malta and Portugal.There might be increased awareness of Portugal through the EU Presidency but not a direct link, at least in my opinion"