[WATCH] Capacity building among challenges for new Environment Resources Authority- Brincat

Capacity building among challenges for new Environment Resources Authority

Environment minister Leo Brincat said that capacity building is one of the biggest challenges for the new Environment Resources Authority (ERA), with the directorate experiencing something of a drain over the years.

The authority is being set up as part of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority demerger.

"Capacity building is essential to ensure as smooth and short a transition period as possible," Brincat said, addressing the new ERA employees at the Authority's premises in Marsa.

He added that the bill to set up the authority was concluded some weeks ago, and that the bill now awaited a final ‘formality’ to make it official.

Brincat further explained that the board would be appointed in the next days, with Opposition leader and e-NGOs being formally invited to choose their representatives for the board.

He further explained that the board would ultimately elect a CEO for the Authority and expressed his hope that the process not be a lengthy one.

Looking forward to a challenging year, Brincat said that major infrastructural works on the premises of the Authority would be starting next March and should finish by next summer.

"A further challenge is Malta's presidency of the EU council, where the environment will naturally feature very prominently," he added.