The Today Public Policy Institute this morning presented the Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with a report that makes some 180 recommendations for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) and other regulatory bodies connected with the environment.

Perhaps the most significant of the proposals made for the Mepa reform deals with the way members are appointed to the authority’s boards.

The document suggests that MPs are done away with on the Mepa board and that rather than have direct appointments by the government, the members on the boards should be chosen from a list of candidates suggested by the representatives of civil society, from unions to green NGOs, academics and the private sector.

All of the appointees would have to be scrutinised by the parliament’s standing committee on development planning. The report also suggests that the position of the director general and the Mepa chairman should be fused into one role of an executive chairman who would be ultimately accountable for the running of the authority.

The chairman and the heads of the different commissions, unlike the rest of the members, would be appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with the Opposition leader and if no agreement is reached the public should be given the reasons for the objections and the President would then be invited to resolve the issue.

When receiving the report, the Prime Minister this morning said he will look into the recommendations carefully. The lead author Martin Scicluna said later at the press conference unveiling the document, that he got the impression that Dr Gonzi was favourable to the majority of the suggestions made.

“I got the impression, however, that he found the proposals for the reform of how members are appointed to the boards somewhat cumbersome. I sensed that the Prime Minister found that the system would give him more problems than solutions. On the other hand, I see it as a benefit for transparency and an opportunity to make the planning process open to everybody...” he said.