VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A petition demanding an end to the discharge of sewage into Maltese seas has been officially accepted for debate by the European Parliament.
The petition, filed earlier this year by environmental NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) on behalf of residents, is scheduled to be heard by the Parliament’s Committee on Petitions in March 2026.
Maltese MEP Peter Agius, vice-coordinator of the committee, announced the development and stressed the urgency of addressing persistent sewage pollution. He cited an October 2023 court case which, he said, confirmed that untreated sewage had been released from treatment plants in Mellieħa, Xgħajra and Għajnsielem.
“Our families have a right to enjoy clean seas around Malta and Gozo,” Agius said. “Last summer, we had sewage crises at 10 beaches. It is high time we raise citizens’ voices in Europe for a definitive solution.”
FAA coordinator Astrid Vella welcomed the move, saying the organisation would continue pushing for a cleaner and healthier coastal environment.
When the petition is heard, MEPs are expected to call on the European Commission to take a formal stance and propose concrete measures to tackle recurring sewage problems in Malta’s coastal waters.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
