The European Parliament yesterday officially adopted its text on a directive for the management of floods.

A definition of a flood, which takes Malta’s situation into consideration, was inserted into the text and also finally adopted, thanks to the timely intervention of MEP Simon Busuttil.

The definition made by Dr Busuttil and finally incorporated in the text states that heavy rainfall must also be considered as a cause for flooding. The first document, which had been prepared by the European Commission, referred to flooding from rivers and did not include floods caused by heavy rainfall, which is a common occurrence in Malta. This would have automatically excluded Malta from receiving assistance in an area where there clearly is a considerable need.

Speaking yesterday during the debate in plenary, Dr Busuttil said the work which took place on this directive during the last couple of months within the EP should serve to show that when legislation is drafted at EU level it must always be drafted in a way that makes it relevant and indeed applicable in all member states, taking all their concerns and specificities into account.

The text as amended by the parliament will now pass on to the council and it is expected that a final agreement could be reached in the next few weeks.