No irregularities found in 2006 revision of development boundaries

Robert Agius

Mar 19th 2010, 11:46

I gave up on this country a while ago and I am rather shocked at how people seem oblivious to how ugly this country has become. More recently I lost all hope in EU bureaucrats who seem to form a part of a club for themselves and more concerned on protecting their own interests rather than the 'common good' of European citizens.

Fact is that well over 30% of Maltese properties are empty. Solutions such as taxing vacant properties are indeed unfavorable to many but mostly to the developers who incidentally finance certain parties. It does not take a genius to realize that something stinks and talk of irregularities or not is just following laws and regulations which unfortunately more often than not are far from being just.

Supply, supply, supply....demand?

@J Martinelli

Get over it!!! I don't care if its red or blue as long they their job (ie what is best for the country) Do you honestly believe that all your beloved party does is good? In that case I must say you are delirious. Its about time this country stops seeing things in blue and red.

Albert Farrugia

Mar 19th 2010, 10:55

Hold on a second...."The government had argued this was not necessary as the process was a continuation of something which had started BEFORE SEA directive HAD BECOME EFFECTIVE IN MALTA."...and the EU accepted this argument. Therefore the EU simply accepted that this case is out of its jurisdiction. The decision IN NO WAY says that what was done conforms to EU rules, but merely that EU rules are not applicable in this case. A mere technicality.Yet this morning Peppi Azzopardi in the breakfast show said that his decision exonerates any talk of irregularities on the part of the government. This is plainly NOT SO.

Joe Sant

Mar 19th 2010, 10:50

This reminds me of the Sant'Antnin Recycling Plant. The Committee against the building of the new plant contesting the way the process including environmental studies were carried out put their case before the EU Environment Commission. The Committee produced a number of documents, Reports by local Environmental Bodies sworn evidence by experts and the MEPA Auditor Investigation Report before the Commission. The Committee argued that the EIA was incomplete as certain important studies, including the environmental health dtudies were not carried out. The Commission ruled out that this was not a question for the EU Env. Commission, but something for the local Institutions to decide. For the EU the facft that the EIA was carried out was enough. The EU ignored the fact that the EIA was incomplete. Likewise the EU closed the case.

P Sciberras

Mar 19th 2010, 10:48

So that makes me wonder if the(SRA) Sliema Residents Association are wasting their time complainig about the concrete gungle.

J Busuttil

Mar 19th 2010, 09:52

So now to be believed the EU has to go against the Govt. Umbelievable.

D. Farrugia

Mar 19th 2010, 00:30

Strange, I thought the extension of the development zones was something government had imposed on Mepa. Oh well, what's the difference between the two anyway?!

Stephen Borg Cardona

Mar 19th 2010, 00:09

Supply and demand, no wonder the price of flats keeps on dropping. So much for the environment ................

J Martinelli

Mar 18th 2010, 20:01

Who to believe, the EU and its investigators or the rumour mongers whose favourite words seem to be 'irregularities' and 'corruption'?

Too bad the EU did not have to check back to the 1971-1987 years!

M Cassar

Mar 18th 2010, 19:02

The Eu always lets the countries do what they want as long as they don't affect them...we have seen this when the MEP's overspent their budget limit.

Roderick Bajada

Mar 18th 2010, 17:56

They seem to never find any irregularities ever..... hmm

kullhadd nadif xummiemu...

R Muscat

Mar 18th 2010, 17:45

It appears that our entry into the EU has done very little in the way of protecting our environment, we still have power stations beching smoke, land fills that smell toxic, rampant over development with construction dust, diesel fumes etc etc and of course hunting in spring because the EU promsied the hunters a derogation. Its no wonder that more and more EU citizens are becoming skeptical of this burocratic monster that seems to favour more the large business man in Malta's case il kuntrattur than the ordinary EU citizen.
Personally the first EU fist in the face was the increase in the insurance of my motorbike because of our entry into the EU, incidentally motorbikes pollute less, take up less parking spaces and are definitly more environmentally friendly than cars.
Pity the EU constitution does not include referenda to opt out of this useless club that seems to cause more grief than good.

Anthony Mizzi

Mar 18th 2010, 17:33

Political Hypocrisy at its best - and Gonzipn have the ardor to build a campaign with billboards full of greenery.

To be credible, come next election Dr. Gonzi and his consultants would be better off putting a GRAY concrete background instead of roundabout turf as background.



“A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.”


- Adlai E. Stevenson, Politician and diplomat who was the Democratic presidential nominee

A Muscat

Mar 18th 2010, 17:29

"is-sewwa jirbah zgur"