On 29 September 2014, Karmenu Vella, Member designate of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, appeared before the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and the Committee on Fisheries of the European Parliament for a hearing to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Before the beginning of the question and answer session, Karmenu Vella had the opportunity to make an opening statement.After providing written replies to questions from MEPs, the commissioners-designate are invited to a hearing at the Parliament, where they are questioned by the parliamentary committee(s) dealing with their portfolio.Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past often led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced.

Brussels

statement

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

hearing

VELLA, Karmenu (MT, EC)

Committee on Fisheries

2014 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Karmenu VELLA (T)

Hearing of Karmenu VELLA (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: extracts from the statement by Karmenu VELLA

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/12170646/I093003Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Arrival of  Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, greetings and atmosphere shots before the hearing starts (9 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, , "Sustainability is not a luxury, it is crucial for our economic future. I have learnt this as Minister of Tourism of Malta. Tourism contributes 33% of Malta's GDP but tourism itself depends 100% on the environment".

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, "We need a systematic change in the use and recovery of resources to assure competitiveness and the jobs of the future. This entails keeping resources in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value from them and regenerating materials from products at the end of their life cycle."

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,, "Much remains to be done to improve the quality of the air we breath and of the waters in our lakes, rivers and oceans. Our citizens continue to suffer from the effects of the pollution, specially in urban centres. They deserve that the necessary action will be taken."

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, , "I was born and brought up in a fishing village in the South of Malta, an island heavily depending on marine economy. I therefore have some personal understanding of the concerns of fishermen and the importance of the sea for the economy of many regions in the EU".

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, , "We have collectively agreed to achieve maximum sustainable yields by 2015 where possible, latest by 2020, the sooner, the better. This means putting in place the multi-annual plans and a regionalisation that maintains the European nature of the policy while respecting the particularities of each fishing region".

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, (Malta), Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, , "I believe that environment, maritime affairs and fisheries are a natural fit. Green growth and blue growth are two sides of the same coin. Sustainability is the key principle in all areas of my portfolio which has economic, social and environmental dimensions. Together with you it can be achieved. If confirmed I hope I can also count on you as my partners in getting it done. Thank you very much". Wide shot and thank you from the Chair of ENVI Committee.