Sewage keeps flowing into the sea, European Commission confirms in EP hearing

Peter Agius: ‘We need immediate action!’

Brussels: The European Parliament heard an urgent appeal for the European Commission to act on sewage outflows into the seas, summer after summer in Malta.

The appeal was made during the discussion of a petition presented by Benjamin Mifsud Scicluna on behalf of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, highlighting ongoing failures in wastewater management that are leading to sewage discharge into Maltese coastal waters and repeated beach closures.

During his intervention, MEP Peter Agius warned that the Maltese joined the EU in a desire for higher standards, yet they now see environmental rules breached daily due to negligence and lack of proper planning.

MEP Agius stressed that laws are meaningless if they do not translate into real rights for citizens, noting that Maltese people have a fundamental right to a clean and safe sea but are increasingly encountering polluted waters and closed bathing sites.

Referring to findings acknowledged at European level, including confirmed sewage discharge from areas such as Mellieħa and Żabbar, he underlined that the issue is affecting thousands of Maltese citizens who rely on the sea for their wellbeing, recreation, and livelihoods.

MEP Agius recalled that Maltese citizens had looked to European Union membership as a guarantee of higher environmental standards, yet expressed concern that these expectations are not being met in practice. He noted that despite years of legal action and clear obligations, the situation on the ground has remained largely unchanged, with reports indicating that the problem of polluted seawater has persisted for over a decade. He warned that continued inaction risks undermining trust in European institutions, stating that failure to enforce existing rules would give the impression of a Europe that lacks the necessary strength to protect its citizens.

Calling for concrete steps, MEP Agius urged the European Commission to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves and to move beyond discussion towards enforcement. He requested a written contribution from the Commission, the forwarding of a formal note to the relevant parliamentary committee, and direct communication with Maltese authorities addressing the concerns raised during the hearing.

In his address, the petitioner also emphasised the daily reality faced by Maltese citizens, where families seeking to enjoy the sea are instead exposed to sewage contamination, posing risks to public health and quality of life. The evidence presented pointed to systemic pressures on Malta’s infrastructure, including overdevelopment and insufficient wastewater treatment capacity, resulting in untreated sewage being discharged into the marine environment across multiple locations. Concerns were raised about deteriorating water quality, damage to marine ecosystems, and a growing loss of trust in environmental governance.

MEP Agius concluded by reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that Maltese citizens benefit fully from the environmental protections guaranteed under European law, stressing that this issue goes beyond environmental policy and touches on public health, dignity, and fundamental rights. He insisted that the time has come for decisive action to ensure compliance and to restore confidence in both national and European institutions.

Intervening in the hearing, the European Commission representative from Directorate-General forthe  Environment told MEPs that the latest readings from Maltese seawater indicate a continued breach of EU rules and pledged that the Commission will consider further action to guarantee clean seas in Malta.