Joe Borg denies reports of power struggle

EU Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg has strongly denied suggestions made in the international press that there is a power struggle with the French vice-president of the Commission, Jacques Barrot.

According to various reports appearing in the international media, Dr Borg and Mr Barrot are at loggerheads over the future green paper on maritime policy which is due to be published next year.

The international maritime newspaper, Lloyds List, last week carried a long report reiterating these allegations.

However, a spokesman for Dr Borg called these reports "pure fabrication" and denied any conflict between the two commissioners. "The roles of the two commissioners are very clearly defined and any conflict exists only in the mind of the press," he continued.

Dr Borg is currently responsible for the coordination of a 14-man task force responsible to produce the green paper. Mr Barrot is one of the members as he is responsible for transport.

According to Lloyds List, Mr Barrot has the most to lose out of this conflict.

"The Maltese commissioner has the ear of the commission president, is reportedly close to the UK presidency and comes from a maritime country."

The Green Paper on the future maritime policy of the EU is considered as a crucial document in the maritime world as it will set the direction for Europe's maritime industries for decades to come and will also include concrete shipping policy proposals.