Maghtab study "against EU directives"

The government's study on Maghtab went against EU directives, the MLP's spokesman for environmental planning, Joe Mizzi said.

Mr Mizzi pointed out in a statement that he was not invited to a recent seminar, organised by the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry, after which a discussion that followed showed that the minister's words were not only incorrect, but also "deceptive".

Mr Mizzi said that from the questions after the seminar it resulted that the commissioned study for the rehabilitation of Maghtab would not be like an X-ray of the landfill as the minister had claimed.

According to Mr Mizzi, the English consultants present said that it would not be possible, as the minister had said, to identify which parts of Maghtab were polluted and which were not.

The government was, therefore, deceiving the public by saying that the study could distinguish toxic from non-toxic waste at Maghtab.

The consultants also confirmed that toxic waste was mixed with non-toxic waste to reduce the level of pollution at Maghtab.

Mr Mizzi said the EU would never fund studies based on arguments that went against its own environmental directives. He, therefore, concluded that there would be no assistance from the EU for the rehabilitation of Maghtab.

The EU only helped governments which had a serious administration, he said.

The MLP was convinced that in government it would manage to get money from overseas for the good of the environment, he said.