The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has developed proposals for a simplified environmental regulatory framework aimed at small and medium sized enterprises. This framework aims to help businesses to achieve compliance with national environmental laws while avoiding excessive administrative burden.

The project, which was funded by the EU Transition Facility (2005) programme, was delivered through a Twinning ‘light’ arrangement, whereby MEPA benefited from Austrian expertise in environmental permitting systems, waste and chemicals management regulation as well as in emissions and discharges control regulation.

During a six-month period, a number of experts visited Malta to assist MEPA in capacity building with respect to environmental permitting. MEPA officers gained practical experience on how to assess environmental impacts of industrial activities and develop a series of focused regulatory instruments to control such impacts.

A series of workshops and meetings with other regulatory authorities and industry representatives were held as part of the project activities.

In collaboration with the business sector, several pilot permits which targeted different types of enterprises were drafted. These permits addressed the main sources of emissions to air, water and land, as well as other environmental issues. The ultimate goal of this pilot exercise was to test a system that reduces administrative burden for SMEs and provides an effective one-stop-shop regulatory service.

The project has also resulted in the development of guidance to facilitate the understanding of the new regulatory system for industry.

Within MEPA, the project was managed by the Environmental Permitting and Industry Unit of the Environment Protection Directorate, with the assistance of the EU and Multilateral Affairs Unit, which helped to secure EU funding for the initiative.

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