EU Budget Priorities, Gozo Employment, Farm Energy and Fisheries Simplification
Review period: 3–9 October 2026
This week’s GCAF Policy Briefing highlights four important developments affecting the future of agriculture and fisheries in Gozo. From negotiations over the next EU budget to regional employment trends, renewable energy opportunities and fisheries regulation, a common message emerges: Gozo needs not only adequate funding, but policies designed around the realities of small producers and island communities.
1. Seventeen EU Leaders Call for Stronger Protection of Agriculture and Cohesion Funding
On 2 October, leaders from 17 EU Member States, including Malta, signed a joint letter calling for agriculture and cohesion policy to remain central priorities in the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.
The letter raises concerns about proposed reductions in funding when inflation is taken into account. It argues that emerging European priorities should receive additional resources rather than come at the expense of agricultural support and regional development.
Why this matters for Gozo
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion funding are particularly important for regions facing structural disadvantages, including islands with small agricultural holdings, limited economies of scale and higher operating costs.
GCAF welcomes Malta’s participation in this initiative. However, protecting the overall European budget must be accompanied by fair allocation at national level.
The Confederation believes that Malta’s future programming should include:
- Transparent and identifiable funding for agriculture.
- Specific recognition of Gozo’s double-insularity and associated costs.
- Dedicated support for young farmers and small agricultural producers.
- Accessible funding arrangements that reflect the scale of Gozitan holdings.
GCAF Policy Position: Protecting EU funding is essential, but Gozo must also receive a fair and proportionate share through clearly defined national measures.
Source: Government of Slovenia – Joint Letter, 3 October 2026
2. New Employment Figures Highlight Gozo’s Need for Locally Based Economic Opportunities
New figures published by Malta’s National Statistics Office on 5 October provide further evidence of Gozo’s distinctive employment challenges.
In 2025, Gozo and Comino recorded:
- 20,754 residents in full-time employment.
- 15,339 full-time jobs located within the region.
- 5,511 Gozitan residents working in Malta across full-time and primary part-time employment.
- 32.0% of regional jobs classified as part-time, compared with 21.4% in Malta.
These figures highlight the continuing importance of commuting and part-time employment in Gozo’s economy.
Why this matters for agriculture and fisheries
Agriculture, fisheries and food processing are economic activities rooted in the island itself. Unlike many other sectors, their productive activities cannot simply be relocated elsewhere without consequences for local livelihoods, land management and food production.
Investment in these sectors can therefore contribute to stronger, more resilient local employment.
GCAF believes greater attention should be directed towards value-added food processing, producer cooperation, fisheries infrastructure and rural enterprises capable of creating sustainable, year-round opportunities.
The Confederation also considers it important to obtain more detailed regional employment statistics specifically covering agriculture, livestock, fisheries and associated processing activities.
GCAF Policy Position: Agriculture and fisheries should be recognised not only as productive sectors but also as strategic contributors to Gozo’s regional employment and economic resilience.
Source: NSO – Regional Labour Supply by Place of Residence and Work, 2025
3. Renewable Energy: A Collective Opportunity for Gozo’s Farmers
On 8 October, the EU CAP Network published a factsheet examining innovative on-farm energy production systems.
The publication identifies solar photovoltaic systems, biogas and wind energy as established technologies with potential for wider agricultural use. It also highlights emerging opportunities involving battery storage, hybrid systems and improved energy management.
Importantly, the report recognises the potential of farmer-led cooperatives and energy communities to reduce individual investment costs and share benefits.
Why this matters for Gozo
Energy represents an important operating cost for agricultural businesses, particularly livestock farms and enterprises requiring refrigeration, irrigation, ventilation or processing equipment.
However, small holdings may struggle to justify substantial individual investments in renewable energy infrastructure.
A cooperative approach could offer a more practical solution.
GCAF sees merit in exploring a dedicated Gozo agricultural energy initiative incorporating shared solar generation, battery storage, cooperative energy arrangements, demonstration farms and independent technical advice.
The potential use of biogas should also be examined in connection with Gozo’s livestock manure management challenges. Any such initiative would require careful assessment of feedstock availability, digestate management, environmental requirements and financial viability.
GCAF Policy Position: Future CAP measures should support collective agricultural energy projects, including feasibility studies, cooperation arrangements and advisory services, rather than concentrating exclusively on individual equipment purchases.
Source: EU CAP Network – Innovative On-Farm Energy Production Systems
4. European Commission Seeks Fisheries Sector Feedback on Administrative Burdens
Consultation deadline: 31 October 2026
The European Commission has launched a survey seeking input from fisheries and aquaculture professionals on opportunities to simplify EU rules and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens.
The consultation covers issues including licences, logbooks, inspections, traceability, environmental reporting, food safety and repeated information requests.
It also examines the costs associated with regulatory compliance and the need for external professional assistance.
Why this matters for Gozo’s fishing community
Small-scale fishing operators frequently face administrative obligations similar to those imposed on much larger businesses, despite having substantially fewer resources.
For Gozo’s fishing fleet, additional challenges may arise from travel requirements, limited access to specialised services and the time needed to complete administrative procedures.
GCAF encourages fishers and other eligible operators to participate in the consultation and provide practical examples of difficulties encountered.
Particularly useful evidence would include time spent on reporting obligations, duplicated documentation, travel-related costs and difficulties accessing digital systems.
GCAF Policy Position: Fisheries regulation must remain effective while applying the principle of proportionality. Administrative obligations should reflect the size, capacity and operating realities of small-scale fishing businesses.
Source: European Commission – Fisheries and Aquaculture Simplification Survey
GCAF’s Overall Policy Assessment
The developments highlighted this week reinforce three priorities for Gozo’s agricultural and fisheries sectors.
First, European funding must be protected. Agriculture and cohesion policy remain essential instruments for sustaining rural communities, food production and regional development.
Second, Gozo’s specific circumstances must be reflected in national policy. Double insularity, small-scale production, employment challenges and higher operating costs require targeted responses rather than uniform measures.
Third, support must be accessible and practical. Simplified administrative requirements, cooperative investment models and appropriate technical assistance are necessary to ensure that smaller operators can genuinely benefit from available opportunities.
Immediate Priorities
GCAF will continue to advocate for Gozo-specific safeguards within future EU and national funding arrangements, stronger investment in locally anchored primary-sector employment, and cooperative solutions to agricultural energy challenges.
The immediate priority is to encourage participation in the European Commission’s fisheries simplification survey before 31 October 2026, ensuring that the experiences of Gozo’s small-scale operators contribute to the European policy discussion.
The Gozo Confederation for Agriculture and Fisheries (GCAF) works to represent and advance the interests of Gozo’s agricultural and fishing communities through policy engagement, cooperation and evidence-based advocacy.
One Island. One Voice for Agriculture and Fisheries.