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I refer to the article entitled ‘Malta to submit plans for emissions trading at last minute,’ (MaltaToday, 19 December, 2004).
Work on drafting Malta's National Allocation Plan (NAP) on gases emissions has been ongoing since mid-September. This involved consultation with various stakeholders. The first draft of the NAP was available for public consultation on the MEPA website and advertisements in this regard appeared on local newspapers on 6 October, 2004.
The final draft of the Plan was submitted to the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 13 October, 2004 and endorsed by Cabinet on 18 October, 2004. In criticising the Ministry for “scant” information, the article failed to take notice of an official press release (no. 1683) issued by the Department of Information on 27 October, 2004. The press release contained information about the presentation on Malta’s NAP to the European Commission.
After the submission to the European Commission for its scrutiny, a presentation on Malta’s NAP was made at the Climate Change Committee's Working Group on 3 and 11 November, 2004. Another presentation was also made at the 6th Climate Change Committee meeting on 2 December, 2004. It should also be pointed out that Malta formally replied to a number of queries made by the Commission on certain aspects of the NAP.
A final decision by the Commission on Malta’s NAP is expected in the coming days. The NAP, as submitted to the European Commission, is also available on the MEPA website and any comments made by the public can still be submitted till the end of the year.
The article contains other inaccuracies. Malta and Cyprus do not have any reduction or limitation targets under the Kyoto Protocol (non-Annex 1 countries). Moreover, the European Union’s target of reducing its emissions by 8 percent from the 1990 levels is based upon an agreement between the EU15 Member States and this burden-sharing agreement has not been extended to the new Member States for the time being.
Emanuel Abela
Director of Information
Editors note: The main thrust of the article was to point out that Malta was among the last countries to submit its national plan on emissions to the EU Commission
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