A Green Spanish MEP's attempt to re-open the issue concerning the proposed development of the Ulysses Lodge at Ramla l-Ħamra was refused by the European Parliament's Petitions Committee.

Last March the committee had decided to close three petitions submitted by Maltese citizens against developing Gozo's Ulysees Lodge into a tourist complex, following a European Commission report that the permit had been revoked and there were no breaches of EU law. The government also declared that the project had been abandoned.

On Monday, an earlier decision by the committee to reopen the petition was reversed after the intervention of Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil and former British Minister, Sir Robert Atkins.

The committee's president had originally allowed the reopening of the case because Spanish MEP David Hammerstein had claimed there were new developments. However, when pressed by Dr Busuttil and the committee chairman to explain such developments, Mr Hammerstein said he would send his comments in writing.

Dr Busuttil vehemently opposed the announcement that the committee would re-open Ramla l-Ħamra's petition insisting that the committee had already examined it in detail.

"The issue is closed. To my knowledge the position remains the same and the petition can't be reopened simply because a member made a request," Dr Busuttil said. Sir Robert supported Dr Busuttil's stand.

The committee chairman decided to keep the petition closed until Mr Hammerstein presented new developments in writing.

Following a public outcry against the proposed development, Mepa had rejected the permit in October 2007, four months after giving it the green light.