The Ministry for the Environment and the Environment Resources Authority (ERA) have announced a reform in environmental permits, with the new regulations set to be published in the coming days.
During a press briefing led by the Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli, and ERA’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Mercieca, journalists were given a detailed explanation of the new regulations, which build upon the Environmental Protection Act. The regulations are being published following a public consultation process and an evaluation of the feedback received by the environmental authority.
The new legislation represents a significant step forward in raising environmental standards, with three key objectives:
• Regulating and enforcing higher standards for a range of operations and activities. Some operations and activities will be regulated for the first time.
• Enhancing citizen participation and their right to be involved in the process. The new regulations provide greater clarity on applicable procedures and improved access to justice regarding related decisions.
• Creating a fairer playing field among different operators. Those who invest in higher environmental standards will not be placed at a disadvantage compared to competitors who pay less attention to environmental responsibilities.
Minister Miriam Dalli explained, “Our guiding principle was to ensure greater public involvement in the issuance of environmental permits. We are granting new rights, not just in principle but also in practice. We want to strike a balance between necessary activities carried out sustainably and with respect for public concerns and priorities. ERA will achieve this by enforcing stronger environmental standards in the permitting process.”
The new regulations will lead to several decisions to be taken publicly, as required by law, and these decisions will be published on the Authority’s website. Currently, public consultation is only required for applications related to industrial operations that fall under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) category. This will now be expanded to include many other operations and activities listed in the schedules.
Kevin Mercieca, CEO of ERA, stated, “These regulations are a major step forward in environmental protection, fulfilling one of the Authority’s key goals; to establish a strong environmental permitting process that recognizes those who invest in higher environmental standards while also giving citizens the opportunity to fully participate in the process. This is a clear sign of our commitment to strengthening environmental protection.”
