€400,000 in EU funds for Mepa training

The European Union would provide €400,000 to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the training of its officials in environment protection, Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja said yesterday.

He said the funds would be forthcoming following a twinning agreement between Mepa and two European Union countries - the UK and Austria.

Officials from Mepa's environment protection directorate will be trained in the protection of the natural environment, control of pollution from industry and waste management among others.

Mr Calleja was speaking during the presentation of appointments to 16 directorate employees.

The new appointees are eight environment protection officers and eight environment protection inspectors.

"The appointment of new environment protection employees was further proof of the government's determination to strengthen the framework of Mepa to comply with legislation on environmental protection," the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry for Home Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino said at the presentation.

Mr Pullicino said another 20 officials, whose duties would be to protect the environment, would be appointed this year.