MEPA denies breaching EU procedure

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has denied accusations levelled by three e-NGOs of breaching EU procedure.

Friends of the Earth Malta, together with Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar and the Ramblers Association on Monday issued a statement accusing MEPA of excluding e-NGOs from the launch of the latest reform legislation which deals with, amongst other things, the MEPA de-merger.

MEPA is organising a series of information sessions related to the legislation which will give administrative powers to the new Planning Authority, as of the beginning of April.

“Contrary to what the NGOs declared, the Authority has not excluded environment NGOs from these information sessions,” MEPA said.

“In fact, an information session is scheduled for Tuesday 29th March together with local councils as they are now also consultees to the planning process. To date the Authority has held information sessions for its own employees, for architects, lawyers and developer for consultees and public authorities.”

During these planned information sessions, MEPA officials are outlining the salient points of the recently published Development Planning Act 2016 and Environment and Planning Review Tribunal Act 2016, together with an overview of the forthcoming legal notices which relate to Development Planning (Procedure for applications and their determination) Regulations and Development Planning (Health and Sanitary) Regulations.

“This is the first time that whereby information sessions are being held with all stakeholders to explain the provisions of the law to all parties before actually enacting the law,” MEPA said in a statement.