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James Debono
The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures against Malta over violations of a key European Union law on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of projects.
The EIA Directive aims to ensure that the environmental effects of a wide range of infrastructural, industrial, mineral extraction and other projects are properly examined before any works are undertaken.
The law also gives important participation rights to citizens.
The Commission identified gaps and deficiencies in Malta’s and nine other member states’ laws, and has now sent the first written warnings to ensure that they comply with all the Directive’s provisions.
According to the Commission, Maltese legislation provides for case-by-case decisions on whether an EIA is needed. “However, it fails to formally ensure that the Directive’s criteria are used,” says the EU Commission warning.
The Maltese government will carefully examine the observations made by the Commission and will prepare its reaction within the two months conceded by the infringement process, a spokesperson for the Ministry for the Environment told MaltaToday.
The EIA Directive requires member states to carry out environmental impact assessments of certain public and private projects, before they are authorised, where it is believed that the projects are likely to have a significant impact on the environment.
Malta had transposed this Directive through a legal notice issued in 2001.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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