Some €200 million in EU funds would be earmarked for environmental protection, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday.
In an interview on One Radio, the Labour Party station, he said plans for a natural park in the south were being drawn up.
Dr Muscat used part of the 30-minute interview to focus on the environment, which many observers feel is the government’s Achilles’ heel. He made no mention, however, of the government’s blunder last week over the nomination of two lawyers for the posts of magistrates.
Pointing out that environment protection was not just about land-use issues, Dr Muscat insisted the shift to gas-powered energy would help improve air quality.
“In some issues we were not sensitive enough but it is clear we are doing good things as well,” he said, adding the people appointed to the new environment authority were also proof of the government’s commitment.
The environment authority that emerged from the planning authority split will be headed by biology professor Victor Axiak, a well-respected environmentalist.
In some issues we were not sensitive enough
Dr Muscat used the occasion to take a dig at Opposition leader Simon Busuttil’s latest statement that the Nationalist Party would be drawing up a list of exceptions to a proposed construction ban in outside development zones. The statement was made onFriday during the annual general meeting of the Malta Developers’ Association.
Dr Muscat noted that Dr Busuttil had formed part of the previous administration that built a school every year, mostly in ODZ areas.
“He [Simon Busuttil] formed part of an administration that allowed Smart City to be built on ODZ land. There were some who may have been justified to believe him last year when he said development in ODZ should be banned but he has now changed course and is speaking of exceptions,” Dr Muscat pointed out.
He added that the only ODZ development pushed by his government was the educational project at Żonqor Point, Marsascala – the private university, now institute, proposed by Jordanian investors.
“If he is honest, the Opposition leader should tell people that all he had said in the past months on ODZ was simply a tactic to put spokes in the government’s wheels,” Dr Muscat said.
He spoke of the government’s positive track record on the economy, adding more had to be done to ensure the momentum was maintained.
“We have to attract more projects and create jobs. We cannot rest on our laurels,” he said, adding the government would leave behind it a legacy of wealth rather than debt.