Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea yesterday expressed his satisfaction at the launching of the Communication on Maritime Policy by Commission President Manuel Barroso and Commissioner Joe Borg.

This communication follows an extensive public consultation process within EU member states steered by Commissioner Joe Borg, who is responsible for fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

As a leading EU Maritime nation, Malta has contributed extensively to this process even prior to the publication of the Maritime Policy Green Paper in 2006. Spurred by the level of interest generated by the green paper and acknowledging our nation’s maritime mission, the government has in fact set up the Malta Maritime Policy Forum. This consists of stakeholders from across the Maltese maritime sector, including the public sector to serve as a permanent platform for the incubation of ideas, proposing lines of action for international participation and to consider EU proposals.

Minister Galea, who has been responsible for coordinating Malta’s response and contributions during the consultation process, expressed his optimism that this Communication on Maritime Policy is a solid foundation for the establishment of integrated Maritime Policy that will usher a new era in decision-making, not just to safeguard our interest in the shipping, fishing and tourism sector but at the same time to safeguard the marine and coastal environment, promote safety and security, as well as ensuring economic and physical well-being of communities living in coastal areas and inlands.

For Malta, the stakes are very high and the challenge is to find the balance that will secure that the future of our strong and successful ship register, the future development of business in our very own successful ports, our booming services sector, our resurgent tourism sector, as well as the protection of our surrounding seas and coasts especially in view of the ever increasing maritime traffic that passes through the Sicily-Malta Channel.