The secretary of the National Fisheries' Cooperative, Ray Bugeja said yesterday it was useless for the EU to lay down strict regulations for its fishermen, when other countries close by were flouting them.

"We agree with the sustainability of fish stocks but the EU can't discriminate against its own fishermen," Mr Bugeja said, citing as an example Libya's fishing fleet.

The fishermen had raised their concerns last year following Libya's declaration of a fisheries conservation zone.

Malta had asked the Commission to intervene because the decision meant that Maltese fishermen would not be able to access traditional fishing grounds. However, there has been little progress on the matter.

These sticky points were raised during a meeting the cooperative had with EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg who is on an official visit here.

Dr Borg's visit is intended to assist fishermen to play a more active role in European maritime affairs.

During a two-hour meeting in Marsaxlokk with the fishermen's representatives, Dr Borg mapped out the EU policies on the fishing sector and gave an overview of the objectives of the EU Green Paper on maritime policy.

Earlier in the day - accompanied by Joanna Drake, head of the EU representation office in Malta - Dr Borg met Opposition Leader Alfred Sant at the Labour Party headquarters in Hamrun.He also met President Eddie Fenech Adami at the Palace, in Valletta.

The Commissioner is expected to meet the Cabinet on Monday.