The Today Public Policy Institute - an independent think-tank set up on the initiative of MediaToday, publisher of this newspaper - will present its blueprint for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to the Prime Minister imminently.
The gist of the report is that of “defusing the political influence in Mepa,” Martin Scicluna, director-general of The Today Public Policy Institute, told MaltaToday.
Entitled “The Reform of MEPA and other Regulatory Authorities”, the report will “literally cover every aspect of the regulatory process.” Coming just a month after the general election, following Prime Minister’s Lawrence Gonzi decision to absorb MEPA into his own portfolio, the report could not have been timelier.
“It is all about putting distance between politicians and the implementation of planning policies,” Scicluna told MaltaToday. The think-tank is also in the process of concluding another report on “fossil fuel pollution and renewable energy.”
The Today Public Policy Institute, launched in July 2007, is an autonomous, non-political and not for profit, non-governmental organisation. Its mission is to help in the development of sound public policies and to promote public understanding of issues of national importance.
The board consists of 13 distinguished members from a broad range of disciplines, experiences and backgrounds.
It includes: Sina Bugeja, Stephen Calleya, Juanito Camilleri, George Debono, Ranier Fsadni, Marlene Mizzi, Joe Sammut, Jacques Sciberras, Rev Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott, Joe Tabone, Joe F. X. Zahra, Lawrence Zammit and Michael Zammit Cutajar.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt