Environment focus in second session of NSTF Mini-European Assembly

The second session of the NSTF Mini-European Assembly was held last month at Projects House, Ministry of Resources and Infrastructure. The session was chaired by Paul Mifsud, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Resources and Infrastructure. Present for the session were also guest speaker Jean Lambert, vice-president of the European Federation of Green Parties - European Free Alliance in the European Parliament, and Francis Stivala, secretary general of the National Student Travel Foundation.

The session began with a short address from each of the three speakers, who referred to the significance of the environment in respect to the survival of mankind and therefore the extreme importance of safeguarding it.

Ms Lambert gave several examples of the way in which the European Union deals with the great environmental problems it is facing within a number of its member countries, such as Greece and its problem with waste management.

A detailed report on the subject was compiled and presented by the team from St Aloysius College, representing Italy. The report highlighted the various problems being faced by the EU in the environmental sphere, especially where water, air and land pollution is involved.

Various projects and programmes set up by the EU concerning the environment, such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation on Chemicals), and future established plans and their objectives were also explained.

The assembly's resolution was prepared and presented by the team from De La Salle College, representing Greece. The resolution was finalised during the plenary session and unanimously agreed on.

The resolution consisted of various proposals aimed at improving the current situation of our environment in relation to waste management, pollution, agriculture, wildlife, bio-diversity and also the possibility of introducing environmental taxes at a European level. Each participating team had the opportunity to intervene on the topic from the point of view of the country they were representing. The various environmental problems that each country is facing were highlighted.

In most interventions the schemes the country puts into practice to remedy the situation were also put forward, as is the case with Italy, where the government subsidises the buying of electric vehicles for private use, public entities and agencies. Each country emphasised the fact that it is indeed time to start enforcing the rules! It is about time that each and every one of us starts to respect the environment!

For more information about the NSTF Mini-European Assembly contact Sandra Scicluna at nstf@nsts.org. Ms Cuschieri is a member of the St Aloysius College team, representing Italy.