Malta acknowledged it is late in drawing up a marine strategy and promised it would soon be in a position to deliver on its obligations according to EU rules.

The European Commission has decided to step-up pressure on Malta to complete the necessary work on the drawing up of a marine strategy. Brussels issued a reasoned opinion against the island for failing to abide by July 2010 deadline for member states to transpose European legislation into national law books.

The Commission threatened legal action before the European Court of Justice if Malta failed to give a satisfactory reply within two months.

According to the Commission, Malta, Estonia, Greece and Finland have failed to inform Brussels about the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive even though more than six months have passed since the deadline set by the EU.

The government said internal consultations on the directive were underway and draft regulations would shortly be issued for public consultation before their final adoption into national law.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive aims to ensure that Europe’s seas achieve good environmental status by 2020.

The directive requires member states to draw up coordinated strategies to protect and restore Europe’s marine ecosystems and to ensure the ecological sustainability of activities linked to the marine environment.

The Commission said delays in implementing the directive lessened the probability of good results being achieved within the deadline with potentially serious implications for Europe’s seas.