The chairman said that it was important that a common policy regarding fisheries was adopted since the committee was to benefit considerably from the community budget and thus it could use its weight to influence positively.

The committee discussed the importance of consolidating the agreements with third countries so as to protect the native workers from being exploited and also to safeguard the environmental aspect of the concerned countries.

A lack of such agreement would leave these countries at liberty to make alliances with other parties, which parties would not necessarily have the above-mentioned priorities on their agenda.

Another important factor enhancing these agreements was the fact that illegal fishing would be curbed, ensuring the best possible product for the European consumer. The European Union has twenty of these agreements and each agreement will be treated on its own merit so as to ensure the highest degree of success possible.

The committee also discussed the forthcoming budget which this year will be increased by 7.2 per cent – an increase due to several reasons mainly enlargement, training programmes, the setting up of an inspection agency and the protection of endangered species.

The committee agreed that the 16 August is to be the deadline for amendments regarding the budget.

The outgoing chairman of the committee, Mr Stevenson (EPP) also spoke of the importance of making all the funds available to those working in the fishing industry more accessible and claimed that last year there were E156m of unused funds. He urged member countries to claim their stake so as to make it available to those in the trade, thus easing the difficulties that have occurred during the last years such as the increasing price of fuel and the drop in market prices. Mr Stevenson added that a higher consistency in managing fishing resources was needed.

The committee also agreed to prepare a draft questionnaire for the hearing of the Commissioner-designate to be discussed on 30 August in a closed meeting.

Mr Casa also attended the committee on economic and monetary affairs.

During yesterday’s session the committee elected its chairperson and vice-chairpersons. The election was held yesterday because during the Strasbourg meeting the committee had failed to reach an agreement.

During the short session of yesterday the committee agreed to continue on the work of the former committee and proceed on the lines of supporting the Lisbon strategy through improved co-ordination of economic policy.

Dr Busuttil participated in the Budgets committee, the Budgetary Control committee and the Regional Development committee.

The Budgets committee is one of the most influential committees of the European Parliament since it handles the European Parliament’s extensive powers in the budgetary area.

All items of expenditure of the EU in all policy areas are discussed and approved or rejected in this committee.

Top officials from the Commission and the Council regularly attend these committee meetings as observers.

On Tuesday this week, the budgets committee had an exchange of views with the Commissioner responsible for the EU budget, Michaele Schreyer, on the new EU financial perspectives covering the period 2007 to 2013.

The Budgetary Control committee is responsible for the discharge of annual accounts of the EU and therefore examines the way in which the EU budget has been spent.

Dr Busuttil was appointed as vice-coordinator for the European People’s Party (EPP) in this committee.

In this role, he will be involved in the preparatory work of this committee and will help coordinate the position of the EPP.

The Regional Development Committee is responsible for all issues relating to EU funding, including all EU Structural and Cohesion funds. The role of this committee is important when it comes to adopting new funding programmes and to monitoring how EU funds are being used.

Mr Casa participated in the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee, the Environment committee and the Fisheries committee.

The Economic and Monetary Affairs committee covers work relating to the adoption of the euro currency by the new member countries and as such is of particular importance to Malta which will be adopting the euro over the next few years.

The Environment committee is responsible for an extensive area of EU law that now has well over 200 pieces of legislation.

Apart from preparing the Parliament’s position on new legislative proposals, this committee is also active in ensuring that EU countries comply with their obligations in the area of the environment.

The Fisheries committee deals with the EU’s common fisheries policy and as such, is of obvious importance for Malta.

Dr Busuttil and Mr Casa will be returning to Malta on Thursday. Committee meetings will resume from the end of August.