[WATCH] Environment Minister wants ‘strong laws which respect the environment’

Environment Minister says MEPA demerger bills are not set in stone • Video by Ray Attard

As more green NGOs join the chorus of disapproval over the Bills that will split the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said he wanted a strong law that gives “peace of mind and respects the environment”.

The Church’s environment commission (KA) on Saturday became the latest environment NGO to hit out at the proposed MEPA demerger laws, insisting that the proposed Bills would make the environment a big loser due to the weakening of the development planning function.

The KA, which proposed the idea of a MEPA demerger back in 2009, said the Bills as they currently stand were a step backwards in proper development planning and do not guarantee the protection of the environment and cultural heritage. It has also submitted its position paper and recommendations.

Speaking to MaltaToday, the Minister for the Environment however reassured that nothing was set in stone yet and that his interest was to ultimately have a strong law that would give peace of mind and respect the environment.

“The government had in fact opened up a complaint submissions system, which only closed on 7 August,” Brincat said, talking about the way the government was eager to do everything in as transparent a manner as possible.

“Even the e-NGO’s reactions to the demergers will be published in the coming days, and we will be reviewing each submission based on its own merits, irrespective of who has made it.”

Brincat said the government had stressed the need for transparency by deciding to make the submissions public and not merely presenting the drafts alone.

“As minister, I want a robust and effective law that reflects the electorates’ wishes,” he reiterated.

The three bills propose to demerge the authority into two separate authorities, but NGOs say that environmental and planning policies and decisions should be left to technical experts. They insist that the laws increase politicians’ stranglehold on planning and environment.

Addressing concerns that the Executive Council of the Planning Authority is set to have an Executive Chairperson chosen directly by the Minister, Brincat said that it would be unfair to make any judgements until the proper consultation takes place.

“All I can say is that this was an issue raised by many e-NGOs and the government is therefore considering it just as seriously as it is considering all other submissions,” Brincat said. 


The three bills to split MEPA have already passed their first parliamentary vote but will now undergo discussion and potential tweaking during the parliamentary select committee for the environment when parliament reconvenes from its summer recess.