Karmenu Vella faced three hours of questioning by MEPs as confirmation hearings for the new designate European Commissioners got under way in Brussels this afternoon.
He faced questions on hunting in Malta early in the session and insisted that he was not a hunter or trapper, he knew as a former tourism minister what problems hunting caused, and he would, as commissioner not defend Malta or anyone who violated directives.
Mr Vella faced a range of technical questions on the environment, fisheries and maritime affairs, which are his areas of responsibility.
While some MEPs seemed satisfied with his replies, other MEPs tweeted that he was vague, had not given commitments, and had not presented ideas of his own. Greenpeace was among those who criticised Mr Vella’s performance (see below)
“I can outrightly say I condemn any illegal hunting. I am not here as a commissioner from Malta. I come from Malta but I come here as a commissioner for the EU and my interests are the EU’s” he said.
He said he would expect all countries to implement the directives including the Birds Directive and the Habitats directive.
“Abuse cannot be tolerated” he said. “It is not my role to defend Malta.”
Regarding his mandate to take a fresh look at the Birds Directive he said reviewing was not revising. He pointed out that the Birds Directive was adopted some 35 years ago and had never been reviewed since then.
Most of the interpretation of the directive were not from the directive but some 30 court cases. Furthermore, over 35 years science had made giant steps and it was not envisaged when the directive was enacted, he pointed out before running out of time.
Later in the session, Mr Vella was asked bluntly by MEP Catherine Bearder: "Will you take action to stop Malta killing our birds?”
Replying, Mr Vella said said he would take whatever action was necessary not just for Malta, but all countries.
He recalled that he was twice Minister of Tourism, and every morning, he said, he used to face complaints by tourists who said they enjoyed their stay, but would not return because of hunting.
Tourism, he said, contributed to a third of Malta’s economy. Tourism itself was 100 percent dependant on the environment.
Therefore, to those who raised concerns about law enforcement, he would say: You are preaching to the converted.
“Take if from me, I will not defend anyone breaking any directives,” he said.
MALTA LOW ON ENVIRONMENTAL INFRINGEMENTS
Later on, Mr Vella said it was useless to set rules on the environment unless they were enforced.
He pointed out that the country he knew best (Malta) which was criticised in some quarters, was actually one with the lowest number of infringements on the environment at just five in a year compared to 29 in some other countries.
Mr Vella replied to a series of questions which included blue tuna quotas, where he said decisions were not taken politically but on the basis of science.
He insisted that Mr Juncker had not downgraded the environment by linking it to fisheries and maritime affairs in the same portfolio.
All sectors were interlinked and essential for sustainability, he said.
On enforcement, he said that when member countries did not respect the rules, they could either be shamed or helped. He warned that he would resort to all enforcement measures available to him in all cases to ensure compliance.
On waste he said its management had to tackled both at the source of production but also consumption. Consumption too had to be sustainable, he said.
He stressed that the economy and the environment had to work together. One could not go North and the other south, he said.
In his replies to various questions, Mr Vella promised action on air quality and environmental protection with regard to deep sea mining and oil extraction.
On waste he said its management had to tackled both at the source of production but also consumption. Consumption too had to be sustainable, he said.
Mr Vella was also asked about a planned legislative freeze in environment policy.
“I cannot pretend to know everything, I cannot pretend to give commitment unless I can deliver,” he replied.
Mr Vella said developers and environmentalists needed to work together not fight each other. Environmentalists needed to be involved right from the outset of economic development.
During the second half of the session Mr Vella replied to many questions on fisheries policy. He repeatedly stressed the need for sustainability and for decisions to be taken on the basis of scientific information. He committed himself to continuing the fight illegal fishing and said his office would also continue to work on replenishing fish stocks.
At the end of the session Mr Vella showed a photo of his grandchildren and urged MEPs to help him preserve the environment for them.
REACTIONS
In reaction to Mr Vella’s comments, BirdLife Malta said Mr Vella was vague, evasive and often inaccurate.
Pieter Depous, EU Policy director at the European Environmental Bureau, stated: “Either Vella was not allowed to make any commitments during his hearing or he did not have sufficient knowledge to do so. Either way the conclusions for the Environment Committee should be crystal clear. They cannot let him pass if they want the European Parliament to be taken seriously in the next five years.”
Angelo Caserta, Director of Birdlife Europe said no one expected a new commissioner to be on top of all the dossier, but they should at least to show ambition and determination to tackle environmental issues.
"Vella clearly failed on this front. If you add to that the fact that Juncker has essentially ignored both the appeal of the environmental community and that of the members of Parliament, starting from his President Schulz, to assign sustainability to one into his Vice-Presidents it is clear to me that this Commissioner must be rejected, to force Juncker to reconsider his approach. Juncker and Vella – adds Director Caserta - must get this message loud and clear: we cannot support this Commission.”
The Greens in the European Parliament said Mr Vella had dodged the question on the highly sensitive issue of EU birds and habitats legislation and Malta's infringements.
In a reaction to the 'preaching to the converted' comment, MEP Richard Corbett said: "I will enforce. Sounds good, but EP must verify." He later said that there had been neither any big faux pas nor any inspiration from Mr Vella.
The RSPB in a tweet said it found Mr Vella's comments on the environment vs development as 'unconvincing".
BlueFishEurope said Mr Vella should be ok following today's hearing.
Peter Liese MEP said Mr Vella had given a satisfactory performance with strong and weak points.
Arnold Cassola from the Maltese Greens said Mr Vella was in difficulty on certain topics. He was refusing to commit himself to concrete actions.
A group of Brussels-based online communicators and political analysists said they gave Mr Vella an overall rating of 5.5/10. Cecilia Malmstrom, who has been designated responsibility for international trade, got 7.5/10 in her hearing.
GREENPEACE STRONGLY CRITICAL
Greenpeace in a statement said Mr Vella’s performance today raised serious concerns about the ability of President Juncker’s Commission to play its institutional role of safeguarding environmental protection and promoting sustainable development.
Jorgo Riss Director of Greenpeace EU said: “The Commission started off on the wrong foot. Despite President Juncker’s commitment to put the environment at the top of his Commission’s political agenda, what we heard today raises more concerns than it addresses.
"Vella did not display a firm grasp of the dossiers he is meant to take responsibility for. In today’s performance, he failed to convince that he is up to the job of environment, maritime affairs and fisheries commissioner.
"He did not show understanding of the complexity of environmental issues, ranging from nature and health protection to circular economy, dodging many specific questions and giving vague and general answers. Today’s hearing raises serious doubts not only about the candidate, but also about President Juncker’s commitment to make environmental protection and sustainability central to the new Commission’s work”.
Greenpeace said the move from a Commissioner with dedicated responsibilities for environment to having this policy area shared with other demanding dossiers like fisheries and maritime affairs in practice relegated environmental issues in the order of political priorities.
EPP, SOCIALIST REACTION
The European Popular Party, of which the PN forms part said Mr Vella must be committed to the implementation of and future action on EU legislation.
"There is a lot to do. Clean air, efficient use of resources and the current Seventh EU Environment Action Programme", said the EPP Group Spokesman on the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, Peter Liese MEP.
As for the EU Birds Directive, Liese called for the enforcement of existing legislation. "The Commissioner-Designate must keep a firm grip on the implementation of the EU Birds Directive, and also in his home country, Malta", said Liese.
Regarding the EU fisheries sector, EPP Group Spokesman Gabriel Mato MEP underlined: “Implementing the recently-agreed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to put the EU firmly on the path of a sustainable fishing sector and fishing communities, must be the top priority for Mr Vella”, he said.
The European Socialists said Mr Vella had given a convincing performance. "The S&D group is confident that Mr Vella a longer serving former minister will boost the EU agenda on the environment, fisheries and maritime policy and also help raise the political profile of the new commission."
Vice-President Isabelle Thomas said she was pleased by Mr Vella's well-balanced approached to sustainable development.
Matthias Groose, spokesperson on environment policy, said Mr Vella was convincing by committing to an agenda which addresses the key areas of sustainability, resource efficiency and the green economy.
Ulrike Rodust, spokesperson on fisheries, expressed confidence that Mr Vella would implement the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.