Moviment Graffitti has expressed concern about certain proposed changes to regulations concerning Environment Impact Assessments.

The organisation said: “Through such changes, developers will be given more power, while the Malta Environment and Planning Authority will be further losing its autonomy in planning and environmental matters.

“The government is proposing that the Director for Environmental Policy and Initiatives within the ministry responsible for the environment will have the final say on decisions already taken by Mepa, should concerned developers appeal against such decisions on EIA terms of reference. By this proposal, the director in question will therefore have the power to overturn Mepa decisions.

“This proposed change is of major concern, as it may provide a loophole for developers in a country that is already characterised by unsustainable over-development. What Malta needs is more control over development, and not the opposite.”

Moviment Graffitti further pointed out: “Mepa should have more authority in decision-making, and not less. Its board should also be more representative of civil society. Instead of taking such a step forward, the “Government is proposing to take two steps back, giving more unilateral power to the minister and less to the authority that was specifically established to decide on planning and environmental matters.

“As regards Environmental Impact Assessments, Moviment Graffitti is also concerned that the government is proposing regulations by which certain development projects may be fast tracked by avoiding the carrying out of EIAs. There are already examples of recent and proposed developments that benefited from this –including Wied Babu and the proposed development at Qui-si-sana. We also are querying whether proposed developments such as that at Crowne Plaza and the building of a cemetery in Nadur will also benefit from this.”

Moviment Graffitti concluded by saying: “All this is another slap in the face for the environment, following the recent government decision to extend the development zones, when certain areas were included in the final stages without the process of public consultation and an EIA.”