In Brussels, during the Council of Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Fisheries, the conclusions on aquaculture were approved, in which the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo explained that the Maltese Government has just adopted the national plan for the coming years.
The Council also discussed the situation that continues to develop around the world with regard to agricultural markets; food prices that continue to rise; global food supply – which if further declining will cause more instability in African countries and the Middle East, with major repercussions for the European continent; as well as that the dry and hot weather in Europe is putting significant pressure on arable fields.
The paper presented by the Commission on the sustainable use of pesticides was also discussed. Minister Anton Refalo, together with several other European ministers, expressed his concern about this proposal and stressed that such a proposal must be designed in a way that would not be disadvantageous to the work of Maltese and Gozitan farmers. .
Meanwhile, Minister Anton Refalo took the opportunity to speak with European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, as the Commission closed the infringement procedure it has opened against our country over the control of the tuna industry. The Minister expressed his satisfaction for the valuable work done by the Maltese authorities and the Commission in order to reach this positive result for our country.
Photo: MAFA