Alternattiva Demokratika: The fight is still on over the extension of development boundaries

Speaking at a Press Conference at l-Iklin, Dr Harry Vassallo, Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party said that extension of development boundaries carried out by Government in July in violation of EU Directives has created uncertainty and anxiety for hundreds of families across the country. “Minister George Pullicino has effectively told these families that they are politically expendable, that their investments in their homes are not a consideration which this government respects.  For Alternattiva Demokratika the issue is not over with Parliament’s approval of the Development Zones extensions, last July, in fact we have been working on the matter since then.” Dr Vassallo said.

“In the past four months the matter has been under investigation by the EU Commissioner responsible for the Environment Stavros Dimas and what the government has tried to do will not be sanctioned once it is established that it is in violation of EU law.” Dr Vassallo said.

“Alternattiva Demokratika has also carried out its own study on the illegal extension of the development zones and will be making a technical statement to Commissioner Dimas in support of his investigation” Dr Vassallo added. “Our submissions to the Commission are being published in our website and are being made available to the press.” he added.

“It is also our duty to keep affected residents informed of what is going on and to this end we are organising a residents’ network which will contact everybody in every street facing an illegal extension of the development boundaries.” Dr Vassallo said. “We invite everybody to participate actively in the little time that remains.”

“Apart from residents the issue is a challenge to all who have an interest to prevent this extravagant sacrifice of a significant part of our countryside. We are still in time to save it and we must do whatever we can to prevent its destruction.” Dr Vassallo said. “The challenge is not to affected residents and the Green Party alone but to all NGOs and civil society organisations with related responsibilities arising from their statures as well as to individuals who realise how much unnecessary harm is being caused by the illegal extension of development boundaries” Dr Vassallo said.

“There are many actions we can take and we will take them all. Every legal remedy will be sought and every possible challenge will be made.” Dr Vassallo said. “Making the results of our study available to the Commission is the first step since a significant majority who supported membership in the EU did so in order to gain some control over their unaccountable governments”

He added that this is a challenge to the legitimate expectations of the Maltese as citizens of the EU. “If they fail to gain a remedy in this case, they will have reason to fear that EU membership does not provide one of the principal benefits they were seeking. If the EU fails now, it will be expected to fail on all other fronts.” Dr Vassallo said. “If a Nationalist government can show such contempt for EU rules and regulations after it campaigned so strongly for EU membership, the Maltese can easily expect worse from a Labour government which had campaigned just as strongly in the opposite direction.” He added. “Minister Pullicino has made a historic challenge to the EU by defying it directly. It is up to the EU now to make it clear that its rules must be respected by all Maltese governments and in all circumstances. “ Dr Vassallo said.

“Farmers have already been given notices of eviction from the lands affected long before the matter has been settled and we can expect development permits to be filed at any time. The longer it takes to settle the issue, the greater harm will be made to all involved especially to those who invest in these lands on the strength of the government’s illegality.” Dr Vassallo said. “We expect that those who suffer damages should be compensated but not by the state but by the members of parliament who persisted in approving this legislation regardless of all warning including the judicial letter with which they were notified by Alternattiva Demokratika.” Dr Vassallo said. The longer it takes the more significant the damages. The government is still in time to withdraw the extension of development boundaries in order to avoid further damages being caused.” Dr Vassallo said.

“In the past four months several families and business may have been exposed to great financial loss because of the government’s irresponsible action in extending development boundaries. Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party will be taking action in the coming weeks to end this harm to affected residents, to prospective buyers of affected lands and to future generations whose natural heritage is at risk.” Dr Vassallo concluded.

REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT ZONES [PDF]