On the 30th of May 2009, Alternattiva Demokratika held a press conference at Mistra following the issuing of a permit by MEPA for an open air disco during the EP campaign on land belonging to PN MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando land. The area is protected in terms of the Habitat’s Directive of the EU (Special Area of Conservation).

13 months ago, on the 26th June 2008 the MEPA Board had withdrawn an outline permit for a permanent open-air disco on the same site in view of the fact that the proposed activities were not compatible with the same Habitat’s Directive of the EU. AD had asked MEPA to explain why it has changed its mind within the short space of a few months when nothing else had changed : no changes to legislation, no changes to the boundaries of the protected area.

When the Government of Malta decided to designate a number of areas as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) it accepted that it had to follow the relative EU rules. These included that the activities permitted in these SACs had to be compatible with the conservation objectives of the protected sites. Government also had to draw up management plans for the sites in order that priorities for the use of the sites is established in such a way that the conservation objectives of the EU Habitats’ Directive are achieved. These management plans have not been drafted to date with the result that the Competent Authority in Malta (MEPA) has effectively given itself a free hand to decide on each case separately without necessarily keeping in view the objectives of the EU Habitats Directive.

Following the press conference, on the 3rd of June, AD spokesperson for sustainable development and local government Carmel Cacopardo had written to Commissioner Stavros Dimas to request the EU Environment Commissioner to investigate Malta’s mismanagement of SACs including Mistra and Buskett, in breach of its obligations defined in the EU Habitats Directive.

A couple of days ago on the 23rd July, AD received confirmation from Commissioner Dimas that the Directorate-General of the Environment will be investigating and verifying whether the Maltese Government is complying to the SAC directive.

AD believes that it is in our own interest and the interests of future generations that such areas are managed correctly. Our common heritage deserves protection.

Alternattiva Demokratika

Permalink: EU Commission investigating Malta over SAC compliance