(Adds PN statement)

The Labour Party renewed its call for the creation of an Environment Protection Agency in its first reaction to the Mepa Reform Bill this afternoon.

Party spokesmen Leo Brincat and Roderick Galdes said that despite the proposed reform, Malta would still remain one of the few countries which had merged development planning with environmental protection. They felt that interests would be better balanced if a separate Environment Protection Agency was created.

The MPs said the reform did not address the problems of the planning system and environment protection but only made a few touch-ups.

"The people are still awaiting a reform based on transparency, efficiency and effective law enforcement," the spokesmen said.

They said that the Bill did not offer any reassurance that current environment howlers were not repeated.

While one note' improvement in certain aspects of the reform, the main proposals faced problems of bureaucracy and practicality, they added.

PN STATEMENT

The PN said the reform was one of the most important electoral promises which would be implemented to make Mepa a more efficient authority that gave its customers a better service while ensuring a balance between protection of the environment and development.

The reform was the result of a long consultation process, which included the participation of civil society, trade unions and constituted bodies.

The Labour Party opted to stay out of this process and its statement today was proof of its superficiality.

On November 10, 2008, Labour leader Joseph Muscat pledged in Parliament that his party would set up a commission to submit proposals about the reform; but a year and a month later, no proposals were submitted by the PL - "ample proof that Labour does not give a hoot about political substance," the PN said.