(Adds Mepa's reaction, AD's reply to Mepa)
The holding of a disco party at the Mistra Natura 2000 site was in breach of the EU Habitats directive and Alternattiva Demokratika would be asking the EU to investigate.
The site, owned by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, was a major electoral issue before the last general election because of a planning application for a disco.
The issuing of the permit had been described by Mepa’s auditor as a “gross irregularity”,
Addressing a news conference yesterday, AD’s spokesman for sustainable development Carmel Cacopardo said that further arrogance was now being shown and a disco was being organised for Nationalist MEP candidate Alex Perici Calascione.
AD’s spokesman for sustainable development Carmel Cacopardo told a news conference on site this morning that the work which had already been done at Mistra and Mepa’s permit for the activity were in breach of the EU’s Habitats Directive which safeguarded eco-systems.
The land at Mistra was part of Natura 2000 and was a special area of conservation. According to the directive, the only activity that could be carried out on site was what was necessary for its management.
AD chairman and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola said that AD would, on Monday, be requesting EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas to investigate the repetitive breach of the directive, not just at Mistra but also in Buskett and other localities.
Once zones were declared special areas of conservation, regulations had to be followed, he insisted.
Prof. Cassola said it was clear that, in spite of rhetoric, the real European and modern mentality when it came to safeguarding the environment was still lacking in some people. This was another case where the Prime Minister, who was responsible for the environment, was allowing blatant breach of EU legislation, he accused
MEP candidate Yvonne Arqueros Ebeyer said that the case reflected the urgent need for AD to have a seat in the European Parliament to represent the Maltese who wanted to safeguard their environment.
AD said that Dr Pullicino Orlando could be seen following the conference from behind its officials for long periods of time.
Mepa said in a statement said that the Natura 2000 network established by the Habitats and Birds Directives was aimed at protecting priority habitats and species.
"It is incorrect to state that the only activities that may be carried out in such areas are those necessary for their management.
"The Habitats Directive clearly states that the authorities must not permit activities or development that could threaten the integrity of the sites and, in particular, the species or habitats for which they were designated.
"All other activities may be permitted."
The authority said that applying AD's interpretation would lead to making all beaches practically no go areas since they were all special areas of conservation.
It said that the clearance for the Mistra activity was subject to a number of conditions and was only issued after MEPA ascertained that there would be no negative impact on the priority species and habitats against a bank guarantee of €10,000.
But Mr Cacopardo said the directive made it clear that activities within sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation had to be compatible with the site’s conservation objectives.
The Mepa board in June last year made used these parameters to declare an incompatibility between the outline permit approved by the Development Control Commission for a disco on the same site and withdrew the said permit. The authority had the duty to explain why it changed its mind within 11 months.
Prof. Cassola noted that Mepa's attitude at postponing the drawing up of management studies, as required by the directive, to have an apparent free hand at deciding on whether to give the go-ahead to individual activities was compromising the integrity of SACs.
Since Mepa was mishandling the management of SACs, AD considered it more opportune to inform the EU commissioner about the matter, he said.