The Malta Employers' Association has called for a debate on development in outside development zones in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The call follows increased opposition to the building of a university on pristine ODZ agricultural land in the south.In a statement this afternoon, the MEA said that, in principle, it was against any development in outside development zones.

It said that although it was in favour of developing Malta's potential to attract investment in education, something it had formally proposed to the political parties before the last elections, this should be done in a way that respected the country's natural environment.

There should be a concerted effort to attract quality educational institutions in sites that were already developed or dilapidated, of which there are many in Malta.