The European Commission has slapped Malta with a second warning for failing to set appropriate water monitoring programmes stipulated by EU law.

According to the EU's Water Framework Directive, Malta should have established monitoring programmes for its surface waters, which include coastal waters, streams, canals and reservoirs, by December 2006, Commission sources said yesterday.

Malta is more than two years behind schedule and the EU Executive has decided to issue a reasoned opinion against the island - the EU's second stage of legal procedures - to try and make it comply with its laws. If this continues to be ignored, Malta may be taken to the European Court.

When contacted, a government spokesman said the issue was being tackled and should be resolved in the coming weeks.

The spokesman said Malta had informed the Commission it was preparing a monitoring strategy for surveillance and operational monitoring of surface waters that should be ready by next month.

"Malta will be in a position to submit the summary reports for surface waters by June," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Malta was also formally warned over a delay in sending annual reports to Brussels on the supervision and control of shipments of waste according to EU laws.

The Commission issued a letter of formal notice on this matter, highlighting the fact that, so far, Malta has failed to submit the required complete data covering the three years between 2004 and 2006.

According to a government spokesman, the reports were finalised recently and will be sent to Brussels soon.