EU laws instrumental in raising poor standards

Two environmental groups - Nature Trust and BirdLife - yesterday described the European Union as an entity that was ensuring Malta finally got its act together on important issues which affected society's quality of life.

Without entering into the merits of how the public should vote in the upcoming referendum, both organistions said EU legislation on the environment would be instrumental in raising Malta's poor standards in this area.

Nature Trust president Vince Attard and BirdLife president Joseph Mangion were yesterday speaking during a debate on the university campus on 'Negotiations, the EU and the environment'.

The debate forms part of the Environmental Fair which is being organised by the Environmental Policy committee of the University Student's Council (KSU), in collaboration with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and other organisations.

The fair which opened on Wednesday will run until today. Yesterday's debate was chaired by KSU public relations officer Justin Fenech.

Also present for yesterday's debate were parliamentary secretary for the Environment George Pullicino, Labour representative Martin Debono, Alternattiva Demokratika EU spokesman Arnold Cassola, Malta EU Information Centre officer Elaine Cordina and Malta Environment and Planning Authority representative Matthew Gatt.

Mr Debono attacked the government for not trying to negotiate the best deal and accepting whatever Brussels dictated.

"All that was negotiated in the environment has practically been accepted with transition periods. And if these are not implemented in time Malta will be fined," he said.

Mr Debono also said that it was trade, and not the environment, which was at the heart of the EU and this could clearly be seen in the case of bottling beverages in glass bottles which must end in 2008.

However, Mr Pullicino asked how the MLP would have negotiated the environment chapter.

"All we have accepted is for the good of the environment and the well-being of citizens. The MLP's document on the environment provides no alternative to important issues such as closing Maghtab. We cannot waste time on hollow talk," he said.

On the issue of plastic bottles, Mr Pullicino said these already existed on the market and were being dumped at Maghtab. He said they would at least have to start being recycled according to EU legislation.

Dr Cassola also hit out at Mr Debono's comments and said that the EU's so-called 'forced impositions' would only serve to improve the quality of air and water, introduce the concept of engineered landfills, the use of renewable energy and nature protection.

"Is this so bad? If we were not negotiating with the EU these issues would never have been raised," he said.