Members of the front opposing the development of the Sant’ Antnin recycling plant in Marsascala staged a protest outside the European Commission’s representation office in Ta’ Xbiex yesterday.

They also presented their case to the head of delegation in Malta, Dr Joanna Drake.

The Front’s secretary Joe Sant told Dr Drake that they had met Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas on 15 December in Brussels and had explained to him their objections to the project and presented him with a dossier on the case.

That same day, Mr Sant said, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) had announced that the application would be discussed during a public hearing on 21 December.

He added that he would have expected the board to have at least waited for the commissioner to study the case before calling the hearing. “By so doing,” said Mr Sant, “the Mepa board showed that it does not respect us or Commissioner Dimas.”

Mr Sant presented Dr Drake with a report that

documented the proceedings of the public hearing.

He complained that during that meeting, board chairman Andrew Calleja had asked the board to take a vote during the speech by the Front’s technical advisor. The secretary asked Dr Drake to pass on the report to Commission-er Dimas, as it is an update of the original file.

Dr Drake said Europe listens to its citizen’s complaints and it makes sure that their rights and duties are safeguarded under EU law. She thanked the Front for informing her about the case and promised she would forward the report to Commissioner Dimas.

Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja told Dr Drake that he is concerned about the quality of life for the 10,000 people living in his village. He added that the plant will jeopardise their health, the investment made in their homes, the business community’s investments and local tourism.