Government stood by farmers` stand - Borg

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joe Borg, insisted in parliament that the government stood by the stand adopted by the farmers` and producers` representatives with regard to Malta`s position in negotiations with the European Union.

Dr Borg explained that the Meusac meeting when the issue was discussed had been preceded by two rounds of formal talks with farmers` and producers` representatives on government proposals for special arrangements in the case of agriculture. This followed unofficial talks with government officials.

Representatives of farmers and producers, constituted bodies, non-governmental organisations and of the government had been invited for the Meusac meeting which took its time and reached agreement on a number of changes to the position being adopted by the government.

Malta`s position, which reflected all changes suggested at the Meusac meeting, was endorsed by the Cabinet Committee and submitted to the European Commission for its comments.

Dr Borg said that Malta`s position discussed at Meusac did not include the part relating to the lifting of the levies or the programme to be drawn up by the government to soften the impact of the new arrangements while allowing farmers and producers to implement the necessary restructuring. Once this document had not been completed, the farmers` and producers` representatives did not wish to conclude Malta`s position on agriculture without first striking an agreement on the part on levies. They wanted to have an agreement on the whole package. It was however agreed that, if the document on levies was eventually adopted, there would be no need to rediscuss the first document again, that is the one submitted to Meusac`s attention, the minister said.

He was answering a question tabled by Labour MP Noel Farrugia.