Residents petition to stop the dumping of sewage in Malta’s seas accepted by the European Parliament

Petition set to be heard in March next year

The plight of many sea lovers and coastal communities suffering from sewage in Maltese waters will be heard in the European Parliament next year.

This was announced by MEP Peter Agius, Vice-Coordinator in the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, in a statement to local media.

“We joined the EU to raise our standards. Our families have a right to enjoy clean seas around Malta and Gozo. We cannot accept that untreated sewage is being discharged into our beautiful seas from treatment plants in Mellieħa, Xgħajra and Għajnsielem. This was proven beyond doubt in a court case in October last year, but the problem remains unsolved. Last summer, we had sewage crises at 10 beaches. It is high time we raise citizens’ voices in Europe for a definitive solution and clean seas,” said MEP Agius.

The petition was submitted earlier this year by a group of residents led by the environmental NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar. Welcoming the announcement, FAA coordinator Astrid Vella said that the organisation will continue to fight for a cleaner environment to be enjoyed by all the Maltese people. The people had a right to this.

The petition is expected to be heard in March next year, when MEPs will ask the European Commission to take a position on the ongoing situation and to put forward urgent concrete solutions to Malta’s sewage crises.