Malta became a British colony. In 1964, the islands obtained Independence. Diplomatic relations between Malta and Portugal were established in 1968, these being handled by the Embassies of Portugal in Rome and of Malta in Paris respectively. The two countries have signed agreements in the fields of Aviation, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation and Double Taxation. Negotiations on Cooperation in the fight against Drug Trafficking, Organised Crime and Terrorism are at an advanced state. Following Malta’s accession to the European Union (2004), the two countries decided to raise the level of their diplomatic relations and, in 2005, the first resident Portuguese Ambassador was nominated; in the following year, the first resident Maltese Ambassador in Lisbon formally took office.