Petition on seawater pollution in Malta presented to the European Parliament
European Commission representative promises action to guarantee clean seas
A European Commission representative from the Directorate-General for the Environment has told MEPs that the latest readings from Maltese seawater indicated a continued breach of EU rules and further action would be taken to guarantee clean seas in Malta.
The commitment was made after a European Parliament committee heard an urgent appeal for the Commission to act on sewage outflows into the sea.
A petition was presented by Benjamin Mifsud Scicluna on behalf of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, highlighting ongoing failures in wastewater management that are leading to sewage discharge into Maltese coastal waters and repeated beach closures.
MEP Peter Agius stressed that the Maltese people have a fundamental right to a clean and safe sea but are increasingly encountering polluted waters and closed bathing sites.
He underlined that the issue is affecting thousands of Maltese citizens who rely on the sea for their wellbeing, recreation, and livelihoods.
Agius recalled that Maltese citizens had looked to European Union membership as a guarantee of higher environmental standards, yet these expectations were not being met in practice.
Failure to enforce existing rules would give the impression of a Europe that lacked the necessary strength to protect its citizens.
He urged the European Commission to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserved and to move beyond discussion towards enforcement.