PN welcomes MEPA reform

The Nationalist Party welcomed the Mepa reform approved by Parliament this morning.

The reform, it said in a statement, followed a wide-ranging consultation process with all stakeholders and the public.

The need for MEPA to be better organised, less bureaucratic, more efficient and more accountable to the public had long been felt and was further highlighted in the national conference that was held on the reform.

Over the years Mepa brought about a radical change in developments but the growing need for sustainable development required the authority to be better equipped to strike the appropriate balance between development and the environment.

The PN said Labour was now trying to downplay the significance of the reform.

More than a year ago Labour Leader Joseph Muscat had promised to set up an internal commission to analyse Mepa and make its own proposals but this promise was not delivered, it said.

Labour waited for the Parliamentary debate to commence before coming up with three proposals which had already been discussed and were being consolidated in the bill.

Mepa, the PN said, was there to serve the public and this much needed reform, the implementation of one of the most important PN electoral pledges, would strive to bring the necessary change that people rightly expected from such an important entity.