TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS WITH EU REGARDING CONCESSIONS ON FISH EXPORTED FROM MALTA TO THE EU NEARLY CONCLUDED

Discussions were held yesterday, 23rd April 2001, between officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and officials of the Commission of the European Communities regarding a trade agreement on fish, granting concessions to Malta on fish exported from Malta to the European Union.

The aim of these technical discussions was to find common ground on which an agreement could be reached and which could yield benefits to both sides.

The discussions were very cordial and yielded the results expected, following difficult negotiations on the Commission's first offer.

The Commission officials undertook to inform the Member States very early so that a final agreement could be reached and implemented.

It is expected that certain formalities could be accelerated so that the agreement which is expected to be reached, be implemented as fast as is technically possible.

The agreement should be beneficial to both the fishing sector and the aquaculture sector.

It must be pointed out that a similar agreement was aborted in 1996, when the Maltese Government froze Malta's accession application.