In Brussels, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said attended the AGRIFISH Council meeting.
Minister Anton Refalo also had a meeting with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, during which the need to strengthen coordination was discussed in order to provide Maltese farmers and ranchers with the protection and due recognition for the significant damage they suffered.
In this context, Malta requested that this point be addressed also at the level of the Council of Ministers, where support was given by the Ministers present. During the same meeting, the Minister also raised the difficult situation that the pork sector is going through, in particular due to the very low prices of imported pork products that are undermining the competitiveness of local producers. Various possibilities were explored with European Commission officials in order to provide this sector with the necessary support, with discussions that will continue at technical level with the aim of finding an adequate solution in the short term.
In the context of these discussions, Minister Anton Refalo said: “The meetings we have held have delivered a clear and strong message: the Maltese Government is working determinedly to ensure that fishermen, farmers and villagers affected by storm Harry are given the support they deserve. The aid must arrive efficiently and on time, and in this regard we are seeing a serious commitment from the European institutions.”
The Minister also pointed out that these meetings provide certainty that the necessary processes to provide the necessary assistance are underway in earnest, with one purpose: that the Maltese and Gozitan primary sectors are supported in a concrete and fair manner in moments of crisis, while expressing his appreciation for the recognition given by the two Commissioners for the continuous work that the Minister is carrying out in this area.
Minister Anton Refalo and Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said also had a meeting with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis, which meeting led to a formal confirmation that support for the fisheries sector will continue to be provided in a concrete and structured manner. During this discussion, the importance of targeted and effective support measures was highlighted so that affected fishermen are provided with the necessary assistance in a timely manner.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said remarked that, “It is crucial that we remain close to our fishermen, listen to the challenges they are facing and continue to work concretely to ensure that they are given the necessary support, both at national and European level.”
The Parliamentary Secretary concluded by saying that the Government will remain committed to defending the interests of the fishing sector and supporting those who depend on it for their livelihood. The Ministry will continue to work closely with the European Commission and Member States to ensure that the commitments made are translated into concrete measures that address the realities on the ground.
Click on link below to view video:
Photos: MAFA
Video: MAFA
