Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party (AD) chairman Harry Vassallo is on a four-day visit to Brussels to discuss, among other issues, the Maltese government’s non-compliance with the requirements of the SEA Directive vis-à-vis the recent extensions to the development zones.

Dr Vassallo has met an official from the Directorate General for Environment (Infringements Unit) to provide the Commission with further detailed information on the events leading to the controversial extension of development boundaries in Malta in July 2006.

Dr Vassallo said “the Maltese government can expect to be asked to defend its actions regarding the extension of development boundaries to the Commission by next July”.

Dr Vassallo also met with members of the staff of Satu Hassi, the Green Finnish MEP and vice chair of the Committee on the Environment & Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament and updated them on developments on the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive violation. AD Deputy Chairperson Stephen Cachia said that “every available avenue will be taken to prevent further damage to the Maltese environment through this unjustified extension of development zones. It is encouraging to be able to register a positive response to our stance in Brussels.”