Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo and Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea urged all the stakeholders to put forward their proposals to draw up an EU Maritime policy.

Both ministers were present at a meeting – the first of the COMEU meetings – held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Minister Galea pointed out that the Green Paper discussed during the meeting was published by the European Commission and drawn up by EU Commissioner Joe Borg.

Mr Galea said that Malta has until 30 July to submit its final proposals for the maritime policy and appealed to all government departments, private entities and all those who are interested to put forward their suggestions.

It is important, added Mr Galea, to submit the suggestions as early as possible so that these can be studied carefully and incorporated with other proposals.

Minister Frendo stressed the importance that all sectors that are interested in Maritime Policy – including dockyard workers, fishermen and tour operators among others – study the Green Paper carefully and make their proposals.

Both ministries, through Forum Malta, will be organising a number of meetings on the Green Paper for all those interested.