Lengthy talks on Malta's environment concluded

We have often looked at the environment in an abstract way thinking that it was just about litter on the ground. True, the environment includes that and much more. We are now increasingly aware that the environment is directly related to the state of our health.

Over the years, the EU developed a vast range of rules that affect the environment. Today, the EU has more than 200 laws on environmental standards in different areas.

Early in the negotiating process, it quickly emerged that Malta's state of the environment lagged behind EU standards, in some cases, considerably. This picture was confirmed in a number of studies conducted on the impact of membership on our environment. These studies are available on the Internet (www.mic.org.mt)

Why should I be interested?

Because these issues concern you and they are directly affected by EU membership:

· Maghtab and Qortin,
· Marsa power station,
· Qajjenza gas-bottling plant,
· Air pollution from transport
· Hunting and trapping
· Dumping of sewage at sea
· Quality of drinking water
· Noise pollution
· Costs and benefits

Malta's negotiating position

During negotiations, Malta's stance was to commit itself to adopt EU standards but, where necessary, to request sufficient time to adapt. Agreement was reached on most of these requests. But not on all and in some cases Malta had to withdraw requests altogether or reduce them.

Moreover, Malta requested the EU to provide financial support so that we can undertake the necessary financial investment to up-grade our environmental standards. One particularly controversial issue was hunting.

Here, Malta sought to strike a balance between the hunting lobby that is keen on its traditional hobby and the wider interests of the public.

Chronology

Screening of laws November 1999
Negotiations opened June 2001
Negotiations closed October 1, 2002

Your rights
¤ To have access to information related to the environment
¤ To participate in decision-making
¤ To get a remedy if your rights are not respected.

Main issues

Air pollution

Transport has become a main source of air pollution. Other sources of air pollution include power stations. All this affects our health and over the years, respiratory problems have increased. EU law attacks air pollution by limiting it at source and by making these limits legal binding. In other words, they must be respected

Quality of water

From recent statistics, we know that industry alone uses 53 per cent of the world's water resources. Water resources are not just limited. They are also often polluted. This is why the EU has drawn up a water policy based on the need to regulate the use of water as a scarce resource and to improve the quality of drinking water, bathing water as well as water used in agriculture

Waste management

EU countries have agreed to put in place a waste management policy which places even landfill at the bottom of a wider plan which is based on four major principles: preventing waste; applying the "polluter pays principle"; forecasting major waste problems; and disposing waste as close as possible to the source that generated it.

Malta finalised a Solid Waste Management Plan which has now started to be implemented. It will be finalised by 2008.

Nature protection

EU law seeks to protect wildlife species and their habitats. EU countries are required to identify special areas of conservation and draw up plans on how they intend to manage and preserve them. Malta's own regulations are already in line with this law. Malta has listed 17 species of flora and fauna as protected species. Moreover, 3.7% of Malta's territory has also been listed as nature protection reserves.

Hunting and trapping

Hunting was one of the most controversial negotiating points in this area. After thorough discussions on this issue, it was finally agreed that Malta will apply a derogation so that it continues to allow hunting in spring.

It will also continue to allow trapping. By the end of 2008, Malta will study the sustainability of trapping of the current species and in the meantime establish a full captive breeding system to maintain the traditional keeping of songbirds. A moratorium on new trapping licences has been in place since August and will continue throughout the transitional period.

The cost of EU environmental standards

Improving the environment comes at a significant financial cost. For instance, in the field of solid waste management alone, the estimated costs run into some Lm70 million. This burden would normally have to be shouldered by the taxpayers. However, in the context of negotiations, Malta requested EU financial support.

EU funds have helped to pay for several environmental projects in many EU countries, ranging from water desalination (reverse osmosis) plants to waste recycling plants and projects to monitor and control air quality.

Malta argued that since its level of economic development is low when compared to EU countries, it should benefit significantly from EU funds, in particular from funds that support environmental projects.

This issue is still being discussed in negotiations on EU funding which were left to the end. However, even before membership, Malta will obtain EU pre-accession funding to build its first waste-water treatment plant in Gozo.

Benefits of EU environmental standards

The most significant benefit from adopting EU environmental standards is improved public health and a lower incidence of health risks. There is also an improvement in terms of the aesthetic appearance of the country, including the countryside.

This translates into a better quality of life. But there is also a direct financial benefit. This is derived from lower financial costs relating to management of the environment and spending on public health care if high environmental standards are applied.

The European Commission produced a study on the financial benefits that candidate countries can gain if they apply EU standards. In Malta's case, this study concluded that we could save around e10 million a year if environmental laws are properly implemented. A copy of this study is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/enlarg/benefit.htm