Last Updated on Friday, 13 December, 2024 at 6:24 pm by Andre Camilleri
Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, attended the final 2024 meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Brussels. The meeting addressed several critical topics affecting these sectors.
The Parliamentary Secretary praised the leadership and strategic vision of the Hungarian Presidency over recent months, particularly its efforts to ensure a more transparent process for negotiating fishing opportunities.
She noted Malta’s close monitoring of negotiations and discussions among EU Member States in recent weeks, as well as its key contributions to the annual meetings of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). During her address at the Council, Bugeja Said highlighted the European Commission\u2019s leadership in these international forums, emphasizing the priority placed on achieving fair and viable solutions for fish stock management.
Amid increasing global competition, she stressed the importance of the European Union adopting a united and strong position within the framework of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The Commission, working closely with Member States, must continue to robustly defend collective EU interests against third countries that fail to respect international law. “The integrity of our fleets and the protection of fish stocks must remain non-negotiable priorities,” she asserted.
Bugeja Said further remarked that recent technical discussions represented a significant step forward, yielding robust outcomes aligned with Malta’s strategic objectives. Consequently, Malta expressed its full support for the two proposals on fishing opportunities for 2025, confident that they reflect a fair balance between sustainability and economic development.
“We look forward with optimism to future scientific advice that will reward our fishers for the significant efforts and sacrifices they have made over the years, which have directly impacted their economic conditions. We also believe in the need for a balanced approach that safeguards not only fish stocks but also the economic and social livelihoods of our fishing communities. Small-scale and artisanal fishers play a crucial role in our economic and cultural fabric, and this role must be recognized and protected,” the Parliamentary Secretary emphasized.
She concluded by reaffirming Malta’s full commitment to working towards equitable and sustainable conditions in the Mediterranean region. “The fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is essential to prevent irreparable harm to our collective conservation efforts. We must continue striving for a European maritime policy that respects biodiversity and supports the livelihoods of our communities while sending a clear message of global leadership in marine management.”
On the sidelines of the Council meeting, Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said met with the new EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, extending her congratulations on his new role and expressing her eagerness for future collaboration.
