Casa report approved in plenary

MEP David Casa has piloted a report through all the legislative stages of the European Parliament, a first for a Maltese member of the Parliament in Brussels.

Meeting during their plenary session in Strasbourg, more than 80 per cent of the MEPs voted in favour of the report as compiled by Mr Casa. The report was last week adopted by the EP Fisheries Committee.

Over the past months, Mr Casa acted as rapporteur on the Commission proposal to establish the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) for the budgetary period covering the years 2007 - 2013.

In his presentation, Mr Casa underlined the fact that the proposed €5 billion allocated to this fund would not be sufficient for an enlarged EU of 27 member states.

Following the vote, Mr Casa said he was very satisfied with the consensus reached between the main political groups at the European Parlaiment over his proposals.

The document will give a new impetus to the European fishing industry, he said, adding that the benefits of the new funds will also be shared by Maltese fishermen who will be able to apply for specific EU funding.