MALTESE PARLIAMENTARIANS ATTEND COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEETING

MALTESE PARLIAMENTARIANS ATTEND COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEETING

The Hon. Francis Agius, MP, Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food of the Council of Europe, has attended the meeting of the said Committee held in Paris yesterday, 20^th June 2000. In Paris the Sub-Committee on Fisheries has also met during which meeting there was the election of its Chair. The Hon. Francis Agius has been nominated by the European People's Party to contest this post.

The Committee has discussed:

the preservation and management of fish stocks;

lack of water resources and agriculture;

biotechnologies; and

accidents causing harm to the environment.

The Hon. Francis Agius and the Hon. Joe Debono Grech are attending a joint meeting between the Council of Europe Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, being held in Brussels today, 21^st June 2000. Amongst the subjects being discussed, is agriculture and safety during which debate there is a presentation by Mr. Dvaid Byrne, European Commissioner responsible for Health and Consumer Protection. Mr. Gunther Verheugen, European Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, is making a presentation on agriculture and enlargement of the European Union.