In a bid to justify the new MEPA laws which increase politicians’ stranglehold on planning and
environment, Government publicity is giving incorrect and misleading messages.
Contrary to what is being claimed, at no point did the eNGOs Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers’
Association, Friends of the Earth or MOAM give unconditional support to the splitting of MEPA. The
eNGOs were ready to consider such a move as long as it strengthened the environment sector which
had always been practically ignored or had to give way to development interests. The split or
‘demerger’ as now being proposed weakens the protection of environment even further, with the new
Environment Authority being reduced to just another government entity to be consulted at whim.
Further statements that the new laws give the advantage that NGOs will be able to appeal against MEPA
decisions are not correct. This right is in fact strictly limited to applications where Environment Impact
Assessments (EIAs) or Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) assessments are required.
These make up only a fraction of MEPA’s caseload. This number may be further reduced by MEPA’s
recent tendency to release applicants from the necessity to prepare an EIA as in Gaffarena’s 35-
warehouse development.
The reality is that by sidelining the Environment Authority, the new regulations further weaken the
protection of Malta’s out of development zones and the environment in general. The new law also
ignores the impact of development on residents, as social impact is completely left out of the matters to
be taken into account in the new Spatial Strategy policy.
The overriding drive of the new planning legislation is to strengthen the Minister’s control over planning
matters, not only through the appointment of board members, but also in the granting or withholding of
information to the public.
Politicians have no place at MEPA; policies and decisions should be left to technical experts, with the
backing of professional and impartial studies which have been missing from all recent policies.
Politcians, on the other hand, are ever more prominently present.
The only reform that will make a difference to Malta’s open spaces, to improving the well-being of
residents, supporting tourism and the economy, is a reform in politicians’ real commitment to the
environment.
ENDS
370 Words 18.07.2015
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