Green Party Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that Alternattiva Demokratika has been advised by DG Environment of the EU Commission that it has opened a new complaint against Malta in connection with the proposed development at the former Mistra Village site in Xemxija.

“The European Commission has taken the matter up and will be seeking clarifications from the Malta government and the information we have provided the Commission has been forwarded to the Secretariat General to register as a formal complaint,” Dr Vassallo said.

“This is only the latest in the long series of proceedings before the Commission in which Malta has been involved in response to complaints by EU citizens whether Maltese or foreign” Dr Vassallo said. “While it is true that many other member countries also fall foul of their legal obligations under EU law, it is unlikely that there is any other area or comparable fraction of the EU population which has had cause to raise so many complaints to the EU Commission or whose government has been found guilty of so many infringements of EU law in such a short time since membership,” Dr Vassallo said.

“It is another invidious record our government has achieved which belies its claim to monopoly over support for EU membership.” Dr Vassallo said. “It is not enough to be simply a registered member of the club if you are not willing or able to stand by its rules. Thankfully every EU citizen has access to remedies against government arrogance and disregard for the rule of law. However not even this is enough,” Dr Vassallo said.

“To drive citizens to sue the government is far from being normal or acceptable behaviour of a good government. It should be the government which should seek to interpret and implement both the letter and the spirit of the law. Instead it has become normal for government to behave like an outlaw and to comply with its obligations only when it is forced to do so,” Dr Vassallo said.

“Maltese citizens and indeed all EU citizens are entitled to predictablitity, reliability and legality in planning and to be able to live their lives in peace without the trouble and expense of campaigning to get their government to behave decently,” Dr Vassallo said.

“Called to form part of the next government Alternattiva Demokratika will contribute massively to the peace of mind of both developers and of site neighbours by ensuring that planning rules are certain, clear and evenly applied. Fewer developers will be tempted to push their luck because rules will be clearer and implemented rigourously. Above all far fewer residents will find themselves embroiled in battles in which they are suddenly obliged to fight tooth and nail simply to preserve their quality of life,” Dr Vassallo said.

Alternattiva Demokratika said that activists and residents collected over 500 signatures for the petition sent to the EU Commission regarding planning law infringements in Mistra.

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