SPEECH BY THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY FOR HOME AFFAIRS

ADDRESS BY THE HON. GEORGE PULLICINO, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, DURING A SEMINAR ON "MALTA, THE EU AND STRUCTURE PLAN REVIEW" ORGANIZED BY THE PLANNING AUTHORITY, THE MALTA EU INFORMATION CENTRE (MIC) AND THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the Planning Authority, the EU Information Centre and the Inter-Departimental Planning Committee for organising this seminar. All three organizations have a very important role to play in the planning process in view of Malta's bid to join the European Union.

The Planning Authority is in the process of reviewing the Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands which will cover the twenty year period up to 2020. So it is in the national interest that the Planning Authority should be aware of EU Directives and Regulations that would, through their first, secondary and further impacts, affect land-use. If, for example, batteries for poultry farms would be required to be larger than they are, then the Planning Authority should be aware of this so that the plans and policies that are prepared and on the basis of which development permit applications are determined would make such developments acceptable. The same applies to the Aquaculture sector. The PA policies have to be more responsive to the needs of the producers to have the required facilities as established by EU agro-fishing production.

Having said this, one should understand that the task to analyse the directives, to analyse the impact and to upgrade our land-use planning policies is not only a PA's task.It is essential that there is close collaboration between all Government Departments in making strategic decisions regarding land-use. One of the proposals in the new revised Planning Development Act is that the IDPC will ensure that all government departments carry out the obligations asked from them by the Structure Plan.

Malta's membership in the EU however does not only burden us with the cost of change over a period of time. Membership will give the opportunity to benefit from its financial aid to help us make these changes as well as to upgrade our facilities through its numerous programmes.

One of the most interesting programmes related to urban planning is the EU Urban Community Initiatives Programme, which will definetely be of utmost benefit to our urban regeneration needs, which are substantial.

PROGRAMME FINANCING, NUMBER OF PROJECTS.

One Of A Number Of Programmes.

All member states have made use of such opportunities. For example, in the Urban Community Initiative for 1994-1999, the north part of the city of Cork, the second largest city in Ireland, has benefited from a programme that was worth around Lm3 million. The European Union provided 75% of the funds through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund while the Irish Government provided the remaining 25%. The programme was targeted at an area that has around 55,000 inhabitants which in Maltese terms would mean Cottonera, Fgura, Zabbar and Zejtun. It had various aims such as to create the physical and socio-economic environment for investment, to help the local communities to take advantage of the opportunities that were created and integrating these communities into the economic and social mainstream. This meant that local people could be provided with local employment opportunities, the public services and social infrastructure could be improved, open spaces near housing estates could be improved and enterprise training for youth could be given the desired attention. The programme was not just an economic one but addressed social issues such as youth service facilities, cultural development programmes such as local festivals, health care programmes and provision of facilities for local groups.

Similar benefits from such a programme were enjoyed by the central area of Malaga, Spain, where the affected inhabitants were around 23,000. The programme cost around Lm6.4 million and was 70% financed by the EU. Around 60 businesses received grants to refurbish their premises, particularly bars, restaurants, clothing shops and bookshops, over 100 facades were rehabilitated and integrated into a ‘colour' plan, extensive footpaths and comprehensive lighting were installed and a tunnel was constructed to ease city centre congestion.

Apart from having an effective lobby to obtain funds, Malta needs to have a planning system which is more dynamic and which responds faster to new opportunities. In the event of a positive result in the referendum on EU membership, it would be in Malta's favour if its planning system was more geared to the EU funding instruments in order to reap maximum benefits from the funds that would be available.

One other issue which I believe today's seminar should examine is the impact of EU spatial planning policies on the Malta's land-use planning.

The impact of the EU has been felt in both the organization of spatial systems and in the policies which the systems pursue. EU environmental law is the most consistent factor influencing spatial planning in Member States. The Treaty is quite clear about the place that environmental considerations must have in all EU policy instruments and EU legislation. Fortunately the PA on introducing EIA regulations way back in 1992 had already mapped most of EU's standards in this respect. Thus there is no need for dramatic changes, but only some minor changes. In fact the Planning Authority and the Environment Protection Department are presently finalizing the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations which would bring them more in line with the EIA Directive. The Regulations were first issued in 1992, updated two years later but required more changes after the experience of 8 years since they were first issued.

The EU does not prescribe how a planning system should be set up. The European Spatial Development Perspective sets out a common understanding between the Commission and the Member States on what EU spatial policy should address. It focuses on promoting economic and social cohesion, preserving the environment and ensuring balanced levels of competitiveness within the European territory. It is not the intention of the European spatial development policy to create a centralized planning instrument in pursuit of these goals. Globalisation, accelerated information flows and the breakdown of boundaries might push some to propose that planning should be prescribed at increasingly higher levels. However, civil society is deeply rooted in localities and therefore a strong assertion of local autonomy will oppose such approach to planning. It is, however, in the interest of all Maltese that the planning process should be as dynamic and responsive to any opportunity that comes in their way.

CONCLUSION

I auger that today's seminar is only the beginning of an ongoing process of analysis and policy formulation collaboration between land-use planners and our EU policy analyists. Only this collaboration would give us the necessary tools to make land-use policies relevant to our times.

DOI 05.04.2000