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James Debono
The European Commission is finalising its investigation on whether the Maltese government is in breach of the European Union’s Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) Directive, after the government refrained from conducting a strategic environment impact assessment on the rationalisation of development boundaries.
The extension of boundaries was approved by parliament before the summer recess.
The EU Commission’s investigation was triggered after MaltaToday asked Brussels whether a SEA was required before the extension of boundaries.
“On the basis of complaints we have received we are finalising our investigation,” a spokesperson told MaltaToday.
But according to Commission sources, the matter has not yet been discussed with the Maltese authorities.
The SEA Directive stipulates that an impact assessment should be conducted on any plans or programmes with a significant impact on the environment, as well as on modifications to plans or programmes affecting the environment.
The Commission is also assessing the claim made by Malta’s SEA Audit Team that the rationalisation process was exempt from requiring a SEA. According to the SEA Audit Team, chaired by Environment Ministry policy director Chris Ciantar, the process leading to the rationalisation of boundaries commenced before July 2004, was at such an advanced stage that it was not feasible to carry out a strategic environmental assessment.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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