Malta has objected to a European Commission proposal that EU fishermen should reduce their catches to make good for abusive catches by fishermen of other countries. Malta called for equal treatment for fishermen of these countries to ensure a future for European fishermen and good conservation results.

The meeting of ministers of agriculture and fisheries was held in Brussels on Wednesday, when Malta was represented by Dr Ing Christopher Ciantar, permanent secretary at the Rural Affairs Ministry.

The ministry said Malta objected also to an EC proposal on how the EU should intervene in agricultural products markets; the proposed measures, the ministry said, do not help Maltese farmers to deal with the high market prices of fodder.