The European Parliament has acted on a petition made by a Mellieha resident by asking the European Commission to investigate his claims that the government of Malta was allowing illegal construction and misappropriation of public land.

The petition was made by Raymond Sammut, who petitioned to the EP, claiming that the government of Malta had failed to protect the environment and allowed illegal structures to be built on protected land.

He also claimed that the authorities were allowing “gross misappropriation” of government and public land on a large scale, depriving citizens of what is rightfully theirs.

In his petition to the EP, Mr Sammut also alleged that government was creating bureaucracy in hindering the appropriate action to prevent illegal construction, while at the same time granting permits where they should not be granted.

Mr Sammut received a letter from the EP chairman of the committee on petitions, Marcin Libicki, saying that the issues he raised were admissible in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the EP, insofar as the subject matter falls within the sphere of activities of the European Union.

The committee in fact began its examination of the petition and asked the European Commission to conduct a preliminary investigation of the various aspects of the problem.

In his statement, Mr Sammut said: “I hope the EC will manage to halt the rape of Malta and impose punishment on the culprits” – those who committed the acts as well as those who allowed it to take place.