The Nationalist Party has refuted claims made by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Roderick Galdes that the majority of farmers risk losing out on EU funds.

In a statement the PN defended its track record in government saying that the high number of applications from farmers to benefit from EU funds, shows their trust in the agriculutural sector.

The PN said that the restructuring of the agricultural sector was only possible following Malta’s accession in the EU. It added that the previous administration could not issue the results for the EU grants scheme, since the evaluation process was still going on. On the other hand the PN remarked that if the results had been published, the PL would surely have made an issue of it since it would have coincided with the general election.

The PN said that the funds were allocated according the operative programme drafted before 2007, by the same people who are now assisting Mr Galdes.  It added that the previous administration had already initiated talks with the European Commission so that any remaining funds from other rural schemes are transferred to those who have not yet benefitted from restructuring funds.  

The PN denied ever issuing a guarantee that all farmers applying for this funds will benefit, remarking that it is the PL who adopts this kind of approach.