Commitment to consistency

The environment featured high in the current government's electoral manifesto (2008-2013). Evidence of this was the commitment to allocate €300 million over the period 2008-2013, incentives to Maltese families to foster energy savings, significant investment in wind technology and locating Mepa under the responsibility of OPM. All this aims to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for the Maltese population.

In the electoral manifesto it was promised to place the environment at the centre of the political agenda with efforts targeted mainly in fostering better dialogue among the social partners on environmental matters together with facilitating increased involvement by civil society.

Today, this document presents the results of the suggestions that have been put to the government in one of the major reforms - that of Mepa - in order to better serve spatial planning and environmental protection. The achievement of such a balance requires a robust administrative setup. Hence, enhanced efficiency levels, increased transparency and accountability, a significant reduction of inconsistencies in decision-making and effective enforcement form the key ingredients of our proposals. The reform process was placed under the direct responsibility of the Prime Minister as a witness to this government's intent and the importance it is giving to this process.

This was also confirmed as a national commitment by the President of Malta in the opening of the 11th legislature on May 10, 2008 when he stated that: "Mepa will be reformed with an eye to greater efficiency and transparency in its operations, and with commitment to ensuring that there is consistency in its decisions and enforcement."

Soon after the 2008 election, the Prime Minister launched a public consultation process inviting constituted bodies, civil society, NGOs, Mepa employees and the public, to provide feedback on changes that should be undertaken as part of this reform, aimed to address the government's objectives. In the initial stages of this process, the Prime Minister visited Mepa to invite employees to put forward suggestions for the improvement in the service of their Authority. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also presented a draft code of ethics for Mepa employees. In July 2008, the Prime Minister accompanied by the newly-appointed Mepa chairman initiated meetings with constituted bodies.

Throughout the consultation process, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Mepa reform was not limited to an administrative exercise to secure higher efficiency levels but as an essential element for Malta to achieve sustainable development. In this sense, the reform is part of the shift in policy focus towards the environment and sustainable development characterising the strategic direction of this government.

The Prime Minister highlighted a number of key principles and priority areas that will form the foundations of the Mepa reform. These include:

• enhanced efficiency and quality of service;
• consistency in Mepa's procedures and decision-making;
• greater accountability;
• stricter thresholds in respect of development in ODZs with such development being allowed only in exceptional cases;
• more effective enforcement including, but not limited to, legal amendments that empower Mepa to immediately demolish illegal developments; and
• increased transparency of operations.

Mepa's reform is a multifaceted one, aimed of bringing new cultures into place that are based on offering a better customer experience, higher levels of professional service, increased consistency, reduced time frames for decision-making and the creation of a more focused and leaner organisation that focuses strictly on its mission and mandate. The span of control currently followed by Mepa is considered to be too wide to secure the desired focus. In a time where resources are at a premium, we need to consolidate resources to the correct gravitas. We need to recognise that the shedding of responsibilities is not a weakening of the authority but the pruning that is required to secure the rebirth of an even stronger entity that commands the respect of all its stakeholders and provides true value for money.