The European Parliament yesterday backed a resolution calling for a total ban of international trade in tuna fishing, reflecting the stand adopted by the majority of EU member states.
A counter proposal tabled by five MEPs from the EPP, including Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, proposing controlled fishing rather than a total ban, was defeated as the majority of Socialist MEPs voted against the amendment.
Malta's four MEPs present for the vote - Labour's John Attard Montalto, Louis Grech and Edward Scicluna and Dr Busuttil - adopted the same approach against a total ban and voted in favour of the EPP amendment. Alas, this was not enough because the majority of Socialist and Liberal MEPs voted in favour together with a few MEPs from the EPP's side.
Nationalist MEP David Casa was not present during the voting session.
Although the EP's resolution does not have any legal consequences, it piles pressure on the European Commission to support a ban in view of the crucial UN meeting to be held in Doha, Qatar next month.
The Commission could so far not agree on a common position due to divergent opinions between outgoing Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg. Now that both have been replaced, the Commission is expected to recommend its support for a ban in the coming days.
Malta, together with another five EU member states, last year managed to block a similar Commission initiative supporting a ban.
Since then, France and Italy, key allies with a stake in the tuna industry, changed their stand against a ban and said they would support one.
This means the coalition against the ban is not big enough to block the proposal.
In a debate preceding yesterday's vote, Dr Busuttil took the floor urging fellow MEPs to take a more lenient approach on the issue.
"We cannot destroy the tuna industry once and for all with a total ban," Dr Busuttil said.
"There is a middle and moderate road, which we should take. Annex II of the Cites Convention provides for more controls without a need of a total ban. I urge fellow MEPs to choose this way. We shouldn't destroy the livelihood of fishermen," he argued.
Labour MEP Edward Scicluna tabled a speech calling for bluefin tuna to be placed on Appendix I of Cites. He said the EU should apply "common sense and proportionality" rather than back a ban that would cause huge damage to the Maltese economy.