MEPA demerger ‘eyewash to retain political stranglehold’ – FAA

‘Last-minute invitation’ to consult with NGOs denounced as ‘as a cynical, lip-service pretence of public consultation’

Environment NGO Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar has joined Front Harsien ODZ in condemning the government for “the last-minute invitation to consult on the MEPA demerger”.

“It is a cynical, lip-service pretence of public consultation. The 24-hour notice to study and comment on some 250 legal clauses does not even meet the EU minimum requirements which Malta is legally obliged to follow,” FAA said.

The government has published three new laws regulating planning and environmental protection and NGOs received an invitation yesterday to participate in a parliamentary committee which is taking place today in the afternoon.

“FAA has always maintained that any changes at MEPA could only be considered if they strengthen the position of the Environment Directorate, which had been starved of staff, rendering it ineffectual and subservient to the Planning Directorate.

“Even without an in-depth study, it is clearly apparent that the proposed demerger does the opposite, cutting the proposed Environment Authority out of the equation, and reducing it to just another entity to be consulted at the whim of the Planning Authority, as set out in Clause 36 (e): “any other supplementary member from the list of entities indicated in the Fourth Schedule who may be called in to attend meetings of the Executive Council at the discretion of the Executive Chairperson.”

FAA said that the proposed demerger maintained the political stranglehold on Malta’s planning and environment: “The Executive Council may with the approval of the Minister appoint advisory boards and committees to assist it in the performance of its functions under this or any other law. The functions of the said boards and committees shall be prescribed by the Executive Council with the approval of the Minister.”

Control of Malta’s environment by politicians hiding behind the screen of MEPA has undermined Malta’s landscapes, heritage and quality of life for the last decades, FAA argued. 

“The Zonqor case was the most recent example of this, leading to the eNGOs’ call for the resignation of the MEPA CEO due to political manipulation of his role.  While the appointment of officials remains in the hands of any minister, no real progress will be made.

“The feeble attempt to involve eNGOs in the demerger draft is a hollow gesture which reflects on government’s lack of respect for civil society.  No amount of restructuring of MEPA will help until there is real political commitment to allow the genuine experts to regulate without political interference, in the interests of the Maltese public and future generations.”