ODZ projects of national importance shall be exempt from a two-thirds parliamentary majority to go ahead if they are put to the vote for the third time after being rejected twice, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this evening.

He said this would add to Parliament's scrutiny and increase the government's accountability but at the same time prevent attempts from an Opposition to block such projects for purely partisan reasons.

The PN leader made this clarification when meeting representatives from a number of NGOs including environmental and developers organisations. 

He said the feedback from this proposal was "overwhelmingly positive" but at the same time acknowledged that some aspects needed to be trashed out.

Dr Busuttil said this proposal was still being drafted and would be finalised in the coming months when the party would be presenting its environmental policies. However, he pointed out that the two-thirds criteria for ODZ projects would only apply in case they would receive the planning authority's green light.

"We want to strengthen public institutions but want to reserve ultimate responsibility on decisions involving major ODZ projects of national importance on the politicians who would in turn decide on the advice of technocrats," the PN leader said. 

Moreover, he said that this proposal was only one of several recommendations being made like giving ODZ land the same commercial value of areas which may be developed.

This would serve as a deterrent from developing virgin land which, at present, is cheaper. However, he clarified that minor agricultural developments like water reservoirs and sheds would be exempt from such regulations.

Dr Busuttil said this recommendation was in line with other PN proposals aimed to reach wide agreement on certain appointments like the President and the police commissioner.