At the invitation of the EU Environment Commission, the environment NGOs Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth and Ramblers' Association of Malta have held a long and positive meeting with the EU Environment Infringements Unit, as part of the Unit annual visit to Malta, held to review Malta's environmental progress and ongoing Infringement proceedings.
During the meeting Malta environment situation was discussed at length and Mme. Blin, Joint Head of the Unit, said that the EU is concerned about the high number of complaints from Malta, whose infringements are amongst the highest of the countries in the last intake into the EU. The delegation also shared the NGOs' doubts about the Rationalisation plans and the Local Plans in terms of the way in which the SEA Directive has been implemented. In fact the EU has commenced infringement proceedings on the Rationalisation plans after the above-mentioned NGOs and other parties opened a Court Case and raised the issue in Brussels.
The new EIA regulations which are being contested by the NGOs came under close scrutiny, while issues of inadequate Public Consultation and lack of public access to environmental information were also discussed. The EU delegation agreed that other problems that need to be addressed include the over-exploitation of groundwater and the Energy Efficiency in Buildings regulations which have been transposed but are not being implemented.
Mme. Blin concluded the meeting by stating that the strength of the Infringements Unit lies in its open-door policy to civil society and the importance it gives to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), saying that this first meeting will not be a one-off but part of an ongoing consultation with Maltese civil society groups.
Also present at the meeting were the representatives from Nature Trust (Malta) and International Animal Rescue.
Photo Caption: L to R: Prof E.A. Mallia, Friends of the Earth, Patrick Wegerdt, EU, Vince Attard, NatureTrust (Malta), Astrid Vella, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Joanna Drake, Head of EU Representation, Malta, Ing Paul Cardona, FAA, Mme. Marie-Claude Blin, Joint Head of the Infringements Unit, EU, Alex Vella, Ramblers’ Association of Malta and Mr. Max
Farrugia, International Animal Rescue.
