Maltese EU Commissioner on Baltic tour

Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg is on a visit to Estonia and Lithuania in order to assess the evolvement of the fisheries sector in these two countries and for talks with stakeholders.

In Tallin, Estonia, Dr Borg held discussions with the President of the Republic, Arnold Ruutel and the ministers for agriculture and the environment. He also gave a key-note speech at a conference for Estonian fisheries stakeholders entitled Influence Of EU Fisheries Policies In Estonia.

Dr Borg said that some of the measures that would help Baltic stocks reach healthier levels were tough but they needed to be taken now so that fishing would continue to sustain coastal communities in the future.

Dr Borg arrived in Estonia on Sunday when he was taken on a tour of fish and shellfish farms in Harjanurme, before being given an overview of the local fishing industry in Kallaste and a demonstration of fishing operations on Lake Peipsi.

Following his meetings in Estonia, Dr Borg flew to Lithuania where he yesterday met Agriculture Minister Kazimira Danute Prunskiene and held talks with fisheries representatives.