Three petitions against the controversial Ramla l-Ħamra development permit issue will not be reopened and discussed further, the European Parliament's Petitions Committee decided yesterday.

Committee chairman Marcin Libicki felt the issue for the EP was closed.

There was nothing new to add to the decision made by the Maltese government to revoke a permit, granted earlier by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, to build a tourist complex at the former Ulysses Lodge site.

The topic was raised in Brussels on Monday by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil who was following up on Green MEP David Hammerstein's request last month to re-open the issue in the light of "new developments" on the case.

Asked why he kept insisting on keeping the matter closed, Dr Busuttil made it clear he fully agreed with the revocation of the permit by Mepa and did not support the proposed development.

"However, there is no basis for keeping the petition open except for Alternattiva Demokratika to continue making a political issue out of this.

"The Petitions Committee is there to deal with citizens' complaints and not to be politically manipulated," he said.

Mr Libicki told Dr Busuttil that since no new developments were brought to the committee's attention the issue will remain closed.

He said the fact that there was a pending appeal on Mepa's decision did not constitute 'a new development' as suggested by the Green MEP.

Following Mr Hammerstein's request, Mr Libicki had asked him to substantiate his request and list the "new developments" in writing.

The three petitions had been formally discussed by the committee last March and the decision was taken to close the issue following a report by the European Commission, which said the permit was revoked by the Maltese authorities and there was no breach of EU law.

The petitions had been submitted by Maltese citizens.