The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Anton Refalo, together with the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, attended the AGRIFISH Council meeting in Brussels where the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals were discussed as well as the EU’s preparations for the ICCAT Annual Meeting.
Minister Anton Refalo stated that despite positive elements in the CAP proposals, there is still a uniform general approach that does not adequately address the realities of small Member States such as Malta. He explained that Maltese farmers and ranchers operate in difficult conditions due to the lack of land, high production costs due to insularity, water shortages and the small size of fields and farms.
With regard to the proposal for uniformity in land-based payments, the Minister reiterated that the proposed rates are far from the reality of our farmers and that Malta needs more flexibility in order to maintain the necessary basic support for small producers. He also expressed concern about the support linked to production, which does not sufficiently address the needs of local sectors that rely on a small agricultural structure.
“Our farmers and ranchers work in conditions that are rarely found in other countries. They work on limited land, face increasing climate challenges and have higher costs due to insularity. An agricultural policy that does not recognise these realities puts them at a disadvantage and can lead to land abandonment. Therefore, a European approach is needed that recognises these differences, with more flexibility and proportionate support, so that our farmers and ranchers can continue to produce and live with dignity,” said Minister Refalo.
The Council discussed various issues related to fisheries, including fishing quotas for the coming year, structural reforms in the common fisheries policy and also European funds related to fisheries. Regarding quotas, Malta maintained that if science shows that there is room for an increase in tuna quotas, this should be done in a fair manner and that rewards those fishermen who have made sacrifices over the past years – including Maltese ones.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said said, “The European Union needs a change in fisheries policy to be able to accelerate the necessary changes that should lead to more young people entering the fishing sector. This is also through European funds that at the moment make it very difficult to help young fishermen and investments in vessels.”
The parliamentary secretary also thanked the European Commission for the action taken in recent days at the annual meeting of the GFCM, with concrete actions on vessels that carry out illegal fishing. While this should continue to ensure the safety of our fishermen and the sustainability of fishing.
Photos (MAFA)
