COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Environmental Implementation Review 2022 Country Report - MALTA Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2022: Turning the tide through environmental compliance
Date: 2022-09-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Malta, application of EU law, biodiversity, circular economy, climate change policy, environmental law, governance, pollution control measures, waste management

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 8.9.2022  SWD(2022) 278 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Environmental Implementation Review 2022      Country Report - MALTA             Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2022: Turning the tide through environmental compliance      {COM(2022) 438 final} - {SWD(2022) 252 final} - {SWD(2022) 253 final} - {SWD(2022) 254 final} - {SWD(2022) 255 final} - {SWD(2022) 256 final} - {SWD(2022) 257 final} - {SWD(2022) 258 final} - {SWD(2022) 259 final} - {SWD(2022) 260 final} - {SWD(2022) 261 final} - {SWD(2022) 262 final} - {SWD(2022) 263 final} - {SWD(2022) 264 final} - {SWD(2022) 265 final} - {SWD(2022) 266 final} - {SWD(2022) 267 final} - {SWD(2022) 268 final} - {SWD(2022) 269 final} - {SWD(2022) 270 final} - {SWD(2022) 271 final} - {SWD(2022) 272 final} - {SWD(2022) 273 final} - {SWD(2022) 274 final} - {SWD(2022) 275 final} - {SWD(2022) 276 final} - {SWD(2022) 277 final}  
 
 
Malta  1 

This  report  has  been  written  by  the  staff  of  the  Directorate-General  for  Environment,  European  Commission. 
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Table of Contents 

Malta  2 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... 3 

PART I: THEMATIC AREAS ...................................................................................................................................... 4 

1. 

CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................... 4 
Measures towards a circular economy ................................................................................................................ 4 
Waste management ............................................................................................................................................. 6 
2. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL CAPITAL .................................................................................................................... 10 
Nature protection and restoration ..................................................................................................................... 10 
Marine ecosystems............................................................................................................................................. 17 
Ecosystem assessment and accounting ............................................................................................................. 18 
3. ZERO POLLUTION .............................................................................................................................................. 21 
Clean air ............................................................................................................................................................. 21 
Industrial emissions ............................................................................................................................................ 22 
Major industrial accidents prevention - SEVESO ................................................................................................ 25 
Noise .................................................................................................................................................................. 26 
Water quality and management ........................................................................................................................ 26 
Chemicals ........................................................................................................................................................... 30 
4. CLIMATE ACTION .............................................................................................................................................. 33 
Key national climate policies and strategies ...................................................................................................... 33 
Effort sharing ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 
Key sectoral developments ................................................................................................................................. 34 
Use of revenues from the auctioning of EU ETS allowances .............................................................................. 35 

PART II: ENABLING FRAMEWORK: IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS .............................................................................. 36 

5. FINANCING ...................................................................................................................................................... 36 
Environmental investment needs in the European Union .................................................................................. 36 
EU environmental funding 2014-2020 ............................................................................................................... 37 
EU environmental funding 2021-2027 ............................................................................................................... 39 
National expenditure on environmental protection ........................................................................................... 40 
Green budget tools ............................................................................................................................................. 42 
Overall financing compared to the needs .......................................................................................................... 43 
6. ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ........................................................................................................................... 45 
Information, public participation and access to justice...................................................................................... 45 
Compliance assurance ........................................................................................................................................ 47 
Effectiveness of environmental administrations ................................................................................................ 50 
Reforms through the Commission’s technical support instrument (TSI) ............................................................ 51 
TAIEX EIR peer-to-peer ....................................................................................................................................... 51 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malta  3 

 Executive summary 

In  previous  environmental 
implementation  reviews 
(EIRs),  the  Commission  identified  four  main  challenges 
for  Malta’s  implementation  of  EU  environmental  policy 
and law.  

 

 

 

 

requirements,  due 
landfill  rates  and  very 

the need to speed up implemention of the EU’s 
to 
waste-management 
extremely  high 
low 
recycling rates; 
the  need  to  improve  the  protection  of  habitats 
and species of EU interest by fully implementing 
the Natura 2000 instruments and strengthening 
the enforcement of the Birds Directive; 
the  need  to  improve  air  quality  in  the  most 
systemic 
urbanised  areas  by 
solutions for transport congestion; and 
the need to address the insufficent treatment of 
waste waters. 

introducing 

in 

increasing 

landfills,  which  remains  significant. 

With  the  adoption  of  a  new  waste  management  plan, 
Malta  envisages 
its  waste  management 
capacity  with  new  infrastructure  to  solve  the  heavy 
reliance on landfilling. Urgent reforms and investments in 
waste management and the circular economy are needed 
to  move  away  from  Malta's  heavy  reliance  on  waste 
disposal 
In 
particular,  Malta  relies  greatly  on  landfill  for  municipal 
waste,  construction  waste  and  demolition  waste.,The 
recycling  rates  continues  to  be  too  low:  Malta  is  on 
course  to  miss  its  2020  target  to  recycle  50%  of  its 
municipal  waste  and  subsequent  targets.    The  country’s 
recovery and resilience plan (RRP) supports an enhanced 
waste  policy  whereas  the  Construction  and  Demolition 
Waste  Strategy  is  aimed  at  increasing  building  materials 
reuse and recycling. Malta  needs to further capitalise on 
turning  waste 
its 
transition to a more circular economy.  

thus  advancing 

into  resources, 

Illegal  trapping  and  hunting  of  protected  bird  species 
continues to be a matter of serious concern in Malta. The 
issue  of  finch  trapping  had  already  been  subject  to 
infringement  proceedings,  leading  to  a  ruling  of  the 
European  Court  of  Justice  in  2018.  Despite  this,  the 
Commission  again  had  to  refer  Malta  to  the  Court  for  a 
research  derogation  scheme  that  allowed  large  scale 
trapping  of  finches.  Furthermore,  another  infringement 
had to be launched to address undue use of derogations 
for  hunting  and  trapping  wild  birds.  Furthermore,  the 
situation  for  forested  areas  protected  under  the  nature 
directives  is  worrying  as  more  than  half  of  assessments 
show a bad conservation status. 

The predominance of the use of private cars as the main 
led  to  traffic  congestion 
means  of  transport  has 
becoming  a  major  barrier  to  investment  and  quality  of 
life in Malta. There has been some progress in addressing 
air  quality  and  traffic  congestion  in  recent  years  with 
emissions of several air  pollutants decreasing while  GDP 
growth  continued.  Nevertheless,  additional  efforts  are 
still needed to curb some specific pollutants, namely NOx 
and PM10. Investments under the RRP are being deployed 
to promote alternative  modes of transport, increase the 
uptake  of  electric  cars  and  decarbonise  of  the  public 
transport  fleet.  Additional  reform  measures  are  related 
to  the  building  of  administrative  capacity  in  regulatory 
authorities  by  making  fully  operational  the  Malta’s 
Building and Construction Authority. 

There has been only limited progress in making sure that 
wastewater  collected  in  Malta  is  adequately  treated. 
While  a  solution  was  found  for  Gozo  to  separately  treat 
animal manure, the main Maltese agglomerations remain 
subject  to an infringement  procedure for their failure to 
properly treat wastewater. 

EU financing continues to provide substantial support for 
the  environmental  implementation  needs.  From  the 
European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs), Malta 
received  EUR  155  million  to  cover  direct  environmental 
investments  in  2014-2020.  Of  this  amount,  EUR  113.3 
million  was  spent  on  water  management;  EUR  22.9 
million  on  waste  management;  EUR  15.7  million  on 
biodiversity  and  nature,  and  EUR  3.2  million  on  climate 
change  mitigation,  climate  change  adaptation,  climate 
risk  management.  With  other  EU  funding  and  the 
Environmental 
Investment  Bank  (EIB),  the  total  EU 
financing reached around EUR 200 million in 2014-2020. 

Malta is due to receive over EUR 316 million from its RRP 
(2021-2026)  and  EUR  787.2  million  from  the  cohesion 
policy  (ERDF  and  ESF)  (2021-2027).  There  is  a  clear  shift 
of investment  priorities in Malta towards the support to 
climate,  energy  and  transport  policies  in  the  l  recovery 
and resilience plan. 

Through  these  sources,  it  is  important  to  maintain  the 
Malta’s  existing  level  of  financing  for  environmental 
investments  (0.56%  of  annual  GDP  in  2014-2020)  to 
cover  the  investment  needs  in  the  coming  years  (over 
0.89% of GDP, signalling a financing gap of at least 0.33% 
over  baselines),  which  mainly  relate  to  protecting  the 
quality air and water. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
Malta  4 

Part I: Thematic areas 

1. Circular economy and waste management  

Measures towards a circular economy 

Figure 1 – Circular material use rate (%), 2010-20201 

The  new  Circular  Economy  Action  Plan  adopted  in 
March  2020  is  one  of  the  main  building  blocks  of  the 
European  Green  Deal.  The  EU’s  transition  to  a  circular 
economy will reduce pressure on natural resources and 
will  create  sustainable  growth  and  jobs.  It  is  also  a 
prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality 
target  and  to  halt  biodiversity  loss.  The  Action  Plan 
announces  initiatives  along  the  entire  life  cycle  of 
products,  aiming  to  reduce  the  EU's  consumption 
footprint  and  to  double  the  EU's  circular  material  use 
rate  by  2030.  It  targets  how  products  are  designed, 
promotes  circular  economy  processes,  encourages 
sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste 
is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU 
economy for as long as possible.  

The  circular  material  use  rate  is  a  good  indicator  of  an 
economy’s  circularity,  as  it  includes  all  the  materials 
that are fed back into our economy. Large differences in 
the  circularity  rate  exist  between  countries.  To  help 
achieve the goal in the EU circular economy action plan 
of doubling the EU’s circular material-use rate by 2030, 
ambitious  measures  targeting  the  whole  product  life 
cycle are needed at Member State level. Such measures 
range  from  sustainable  product  design  that  makes  it 
possible 
reparability, 
upgradability  and  recyclability  of  products,  to  other 
measures, 
increasing 
like:  (i)  ‘remanufacturing’;  (ii) 
circularity  in  production  processes;  (iii)  recycling;  (iv) 
boosting  eco-innovation;  and  (v)  increasing  the  uptake 
of green public procurement. 

the  durability, 

increase 

to 

Resource  productivity  expresses  how  efficiently  the 
economy  uses  material  resources  to  produce  wealth. 
Improving  resource  productivity  can  help  to  minimise 
impacts  on  the  environment  and  reduce 
negative 
dependency on volatile raw material markets. As shown 
in Figure 2, Malta generated EUR 1.91 per kg of material 
consumed 
resource 
productivity  slightly  below  the  EU  average  of  EUR  2.09 
per kg. 

2020,  putting  Malta’s 

in 

Figure 2: Resource productivity 2010-20202 

Malta’s  circular  (secondary)  use  of  material  increased 
from  5.2%  in  2016  to  7.9%  in  2020.  This  rate  is  still 
below the EU average of 12.8%.   

Circular economy strategies  

The  Commission  encourages  Member  States  to  adopt 
implement  national/regional  circular  economy 
and 

1 Eurostat, Circular Economy Monitoring Framework.  
2 Eurostat, Resource productivity. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
strategies covering the whole life cycle of products. This 
is because such strategies are one of the most effective 
ways  to  progress  towards  a  more  circular  economy  at 
Member  State  level.  Since  the  launch  of  the  online 
European  Circular  Economy  Stakeholder  Platform  in 
20173,  national,  regional  or  local  authorities  have  used 
the platform to share their strategies and roadmaps.  

In  2020,  the  Maltese  Ministry  for  the  Environment, 
Climate  Change  and  Planning,  together  with  Circular 
Economy  Malta,  adopted  ‘Vision  2020’  the  country’s 
circular economy for 2020-20304. In line with the waste 
into  account  Malta’s 
hierarchy,  the  strategy  takes 
current  performance  in  waste  management  as  well  as 
its  obligations  to  minimise  waste  generation  and  the 
disposal of  waste in landfills. The strategy also plans to 
improve Malta’s recycling performance and its recovery 
of  secondary  materials.  The  policies  to  implement  the 
strategy  will 
producer 
responsibility schemes; (ii) deposit-refund schemes; and 
(iii) investments in waste management infrastructure.  

extended 

include: 

(i) 

Malta  has  also  set  up  a  sectorial  strategies  for  both 
construction  and  plastics.  For  construction,  Malta  has 
adopted  a  strategy  for  construction  and  demolition 
waste,  which  will  help  the  transition  towards  a  more 
circular  economy  and  hence  closing  the 
loop  of 
products’  lifecycles.  For  plastics,  Malta  has  drawn  up 
the Single-use plastic products Strategy for Malta 2021-
2030  called  ‘Rethink  Plastic’.  This  plastics  strategy 
contains  24  measures  that  aim  to  both  reduce  the 
consumption  of  certain  single‑use  plastic  products  and 
increase  the  quality  and  quantities  of  plastic  waste 
collected for recycling. Moreover, the ‘Saving Our Blue’ 
Campaigns5 
strategy.. 
However,  Malta  is  subject  to  infringement  proceedings 
for  the  non-communication  of  national  transposition 
measures for EU Directive 2019/904 on the reduction of 
the 
impact  of  certain  plastic  products  on 
the 
environment6.  

the  plastics 

compliments 

Malta  recently  published  the  country’s  new  waste 
management  plan  (2021-2030)7,  which  sets  out  a 
number  of  measures  with  the  overarching  objective  to 
move  waste  management  up  the  waste  hierarchy, 
including: (i) waste prevention; (ii) waste collection and 
treatment  (including  infrastructure);  (iii)  the  Extended 
Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  schemes  for  end-of-life 
tyres,  non-packaging  paper,  and  waste  oils  as  priority 

3  Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform 
4 https://www.ecohive.com.mt/ 
5 https://savingourblue.gov.mt 
6 EUR-Lex - 32019L0904 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu). 
7 https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Long-Term-Waste-
Management-Plan-v1.4.3-Spreads-Digital-Version.pdf 

Malta  5 

streams;  (iv)  commercial  waste;  and  (v)  monitoring, 
compliance and data management. 

Although  Malta  does  not  have  a  sectorial  strategy  for 
textiles, the  waste management  plan selects textiles as 
one  of  the  priority  waste  streams  for  future  action  to 
prevent  and  minimise  textile  waste.  The  plan  aims  to 
achieve  this,  mainly  by  facilitating  repair  and  reuse 
activities  -  four  repair  centers  are  planned  to  be  open 
shortly.  Malta’s  RRP  is  set  to  support  reforms  and 
investments  to  improve  waste  management  by:  (i) 
improving  the  waste  collection  system  by  region;  (ii) 
introducing  extended  producer  responsibility  to  more 
areas;  (iii)  adopting  the  construction  and  demolition 
waste  strategy  (already  adopted8);  and  (iv)  revising  of 
the  legislation  on  packaging  materials  to  allow  for  the 
regional  collection  of  packaging  waste.  Additional 
efforts  are  done  in  building  administrative  capacity  for 
the  supervisory  authorities  by  making  fully  operational 
Malta’s Building and Construction Authority. 

Eco-innovation 

A  successful  transition  to  a  circular  economy  requires 
social and technological innovation. This is because the 
full potential of the circular economy can only when it is 
implemented  across  all  value  chains.  Therefore,  eco-
innovation  is  an  important  enabling  factor  for  the 
circular  economy.  New  approaches  to  product  design 
and new business models can help to produce systemic 
circularity 
business 
opportunities. 

innovations, 

creating 

new 

Malta ranked 26th in the list of EU countries on the Eco-
innovation Scoreboard with a score of 67. This indicates 
that  the  country  needs  to  catch  up  with  its  European 
peers  on  eco-innovation.  In  all  five  components  of  the 
Eco-Innovation  Index  of  2021  (eco-innovation  inputs, 
eco 
innovation  outputs, 
resource  efficiency  outcomes  and  socio-economic 
outcomes) Malta performs below the EU average.   

innovation  activities,  eco 

8https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ERA-Construction-
and-Demolition-Waste-Strategy-for-Malta-VIS-4.pdf 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Figure 3 – Eco-innovation performance 2010-20199 

Green public procurement (GPP) 

Public  procurement  accounts  for  a  large  proportion  of 
European 
consumption,  with  public  authorities’ 
purchasing power representing around 14% of EU GDP. 
Public  procurement  can  help  drive  the  demand  for 
sustainable  products 
reparability  and 
recyclability standards.  

that  meet 

The  national  action  plan  for  green  public  procurement 
has  been  in  force  since  2012.  It  was  later  revised  in 
2018.    In  2021,  the  Maltese  Government  adopted  the 
2nd GPP national action plan 2022-202710, to include the 
obligations  established  for  the  procurement  of  clean 
vehicles  as  set  out  in  the  Clean  Vehicles  Directive,  This 
second  plan  is  set  to  be  more  ambitious  in  its  targets 
while  adopting  a  realistic  and  incremental  approach.  It 
contains targets for 17 products and service groups, 8 of 
which  are  for  new  product/service  areas  (e.g.  street 
lighting  and  traffic  signals;  electrical  and  electronic 
equipment  used  in  the  health  care  sector,  transport; 
paints,  varnishes  and  road  markings;  computers  and 
monitors,  office  building  design,  construction  and 
management; 
and 
design, 
maintenance; sanitary tapeware; toilets and urinals; and 
hospitality  and  catering  services).  To  monitor  the 
implementation  of  the  plan,    data  are  collected  by 
means of a green public procurement weekly report.  

construction 

road 

This has now been integrated in the national electronic 
procurement  system  (e-pps)  to  allow  for  collection  of 
data  at  the  pre-publication  phase  in  digital  format.  In 
addition 
the 
Environment,  Climate  Change  and  Planning  also 

the  Ministry 

report, 

this 

for 

to 

Malta  6 

undertakes  a  quality  assurance  exercise  that  compares 
the data collected in each ministry weekly green public 
procurement  reports  post-publication  with  the  tenders 
published on the e-pps.  

EU Ecolabel and the eco-management and audit 
scheme (EMAS)  

The  number  of  EU  Ecolabel  products  and  EMAS-
licensed11  organisations  in  a  given  country  provides 
some  indication  of  the  extent  to  which  the  private 
sector  and  national  stakeholders  in  that  country  are 
actively engaged in the transition to a circular economy. 
It  also  shows  how  committed  public  authorities  are  to 
supporting 
instruments  designed  to  promote  the 
circular economy.  

As of  September 2021, Malta had 6 products out of 83 
590,  and  6  licenses  out  of  2  057  registered  in  the  EU 
Ecolabel  scheme.  This  shows  a  very  low  take-up  of  the 
products and licences12. Moreover, only 1 site belonging 
to  1  organisation  in  Malta  is  currently  registered  in 
EMAS13. Since the last report in 2019, there has been no 
change in Malta in the number of products and licences 
under EU Ecolabel scheme or EMAS registrations. 

In  the  2019  EIR,  Malta  received  a  priority  action  to 
strengthen  its  policy  framework  to  both  speed  up  its 
transition  towards  the  circular  economy  and  make 
in  SMEs  more 
incentives 
effective.  The  Commission  notes  very  limited  progress 
in  this  field,  and  given  the  circular  material-use  rate  is 
well below average, it is adding a new priority action on 
the circular material-use rate. 

for  resource  efficiency 

2022 priority actions 

 

Strengthen  the  policy  framework  to  speed  up 
the transition towards the circular economy by 
all  economic  sectors,  including  priority  sectors 
like plastics, textiles and construction.  

  Adopt  measures  to 
material use rate. 

increase  the  circular 

Waste management 

Turning waste into a resource is supported by:  
(i)  fully 
legislation,  which 
implementing  EU  waste 
includes  the  waste  hierarchy,  the  need  to  ensure 

9  European  Commission  -  Directorate-General  for  Environment  (DG 
ENV),  Eco-innovation  Observatory’,  Eco-innovation  Scoreboard  and 
the ECO-innovation index. 
10https://environment.govmt/en/decc/Pages/environment/gpp/gpp.
aspx 

11  EMAS  is  the  European  Commission’s  Eco-Management  and  Audit 
Scheme,  a  programme  to  encourage  organisations  to  behave  in  a 
more environmentally sustainable way. 
12 European Commission, Ecolabel Facts and Figures. 
13 As of May 2018. European Commission, Eco-Management and Audit 
Scheme. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Malta  7 

Figure 4: Municipal waste by treatment in Malta, 2011-
202016 

landfill  diversion 

separate  collection  of  waste,  the 
targets, etc.;  
(ii) reducing waste generation and waste generation per 
capita in absolute terms;  
(iii) limiting energy recovery to non-recyclable materials 
and phasing out  landfilling of recyclable or recoverable 
waste. 

This  section  focuses  on  management  of  municipal 
waste14  for  which  EU  law  sets  mandatory  recycling 
targets. 

resource  efficiency  and 

Preventing  products  and  materials  from  becoming 
waste for as long as possible is the most efficient way to 
improve 
the 
environmental  impact  of  waste.  Waste  prevention  and 
product  re-use  are  the  most  preferred  options  under 
the  waste  hierarchy.  The  revised  Waste  Framework 
Directive adopted in 2018 sets new obligations on waste 
prevention  and 
introduces  more  effective  waste 
prevention programmes. 

reduce 

to 

in 

recent 

Municipal  waste  generation  in  Malta  has  continued  to 
increase 
697 
kg/year/inhabitant in 201915. This rate is well above the 
EU average (502 kg/year/inhabitant), as Figure 4 shows. 
It also suggests that Malta’s generation of waste is likely 
not decoupled from its economic growth. 

reaching 

years 

14    Municipal  waste  consists  of  (a)  mixed  waste  and  separately 
collected  waste  from  households,  including  paper  and  cardboard, 
glass,  metals,  plastics,  bio-waste,  wood,  textiles,  packaging,  waste 
electrical  and  electronic  equipment,  waste  batteries  and 
accumulators, and bulky waste, including mattresses and furniture; (b) 
mixed  waste  and  separately  collected  waste  from  other  sources, 
where such waste is similar in nature and composition to waste from 
households. (Directive 2008/98/EC, Art. 3 2b). 
15  Waste  generation  per  capita  in  Malta  is  affected  by  the  tourism 
sector: in 2019, 2.7 million tourists visit Malta. 

Figure  4  also  shows  municipal  waste  by  treatment  and 
by  kg  per  capita.  Managing  waste  efficiently  remains  a 
significant  challenge  for  Malta.  Malta  has  seen  a  year-
on-year  increase  in  the  weight  of  landfilled  waste  per 
capita  (from  530  kg/year/inhabitant  in  2017  to  636 
kg/year/inhabitant in 2019), while the material recycling 
rate remains low, and actually decreased in that period 
(from  74  kg/year/inhabitant  to  62  kg/year/inhabitant 
for the same years).. Organic waste has been separately 
collected  door-to-door  since  2018.  With  an  average  of 
25,750  tonnes  collected  in  the  last  three  years  (2019-
2021),  however,  its  treatment  does  not  qualify  as 
recycling.  In  2015,  as  a  follow-up  to  the  Malagrotta 
Court  ruling17,  the  Commission  launched  a  study18  to 
investigate  the  situation  in  the  27  Member  States  as 
regards  the 
landfilling  of  untreated  non-hazardous 
municipal  solid  waste.  For  Malta,  the  Commission 
selected  for  its  investigation  the  Ghallis  landfill  site  for 
non-hazardous  waste.  The  Commission  study  not  only 
reveals  treatment  shortcomings  at  this  site  but,  more 
importantly,  it  also  states  that  substantive  amounts  of 
waste  are  landfilled  without  treatment,  a  fact  which  is 
recognised in the Maltese waste management plan. This 
is  becasuse  there  is  not  enough  treatment  capacity  in 
the  country  to  treat  all  the  waste  disposed  of  in  the 
landfill  sites.  The  Commission  continues  to  investigate 
this case with the Maltese authorities. 

In  comparison  with  the  EU  averages  for  recycling  and 
landfilling  rates,  Malta  has  made  very  limited  progress 
over  the  past  decade.  The  material  recycling  rate  for 
municipal waste in 2019 was 9.9%, the same as in 2018 

16 Eurostat, Municipal waste by waste operation, april 2022. 
17 http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&num=C-323/13 
18https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-
/publication/cd1748fb-0884-11e7-8a35-01aa75ed71a1/language-en 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
and  below  the  11.1  %  reached  in  2017.  This  is  well 
below  the  EU  average  of  47.7  %  (EU  2019)  and  shows 
insufficient improvement overall.  

notified the transposition of the 2018 waste package to 
the  Commission.  The  Commission  is  now  conducting  a 
conformity assessment of this transposition.  

Malta  8 

Furthermore,  Figure  5  shows  that  Malta  needs  to  step 
up its investment in recycling to meet the EU’s 2020 and 
2025 recycling targets. 

Figure  5:  Recycling  rate  of  municipal  waste,  2011-
202019 

In the Commission’s first ‘Early Warning’ report (2018)20 
the  Commission  warned  Malta  about  the  high  risks  of 
not meeting the 2020 target to recycle 50% of municipal 
waste  and  gave  suggestions  for  improvement.    The 
Commission  is  currently  finalising:  (i)  its  analysis  of  the 
the 
by  Member 
progress  made 
on 
recommendations 
‘Early  Warning’ 
from  the  2018 
reports;  and  (ii)  an  analysis  of  progress  towards 
achieving  the  2025  waste  recycling  targets.  This  report 
will  be  presented  at  the  end  of  202221.  Given  the 
recycling figures reported for 2019 it is likely that Malta 
will miss the 2020 recycling target. 

States 

Implementation of the 2018 waste legislative 
package22 

infringement  proceedings 

Following 
for  the  non-
communication  of  the  national  transposition  measures 
for the 2018 waste legislative package, Malta eventually 

19 Eurostat, Recycling rate of municipal rate, april 2022. 
20https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018SC0421&from=EN 
21 Placeholder  
22  Directive  (EU)  2018/851,  Directive  (EU)  2018/852,  Directive  (EU) 
2018/850  and  Directive  (EU)  2018/849  amend  the  previous  waste 
legislation and set more ambitious recycling targets for the period up 
to 2035. 

for 

are 

the 

instrumental 

Waste  management  plans  and  waste  prevention 
programmes 
full 
implementation  of  EU  waste  legislation.  These  plans 
and  programmes 
set  out  key  provisions  and 
investments  to  ensure  compliance  with  existing  and 
new  legal  requirements  (e.g.  on  waste  prevention;  on 
separate  collection  for  certain  waste  streams,  on 
recycling  and  on  landfill  targets).  Revised  plans  and 
programmes were due on 5 July 2020.  

In  September  2021,  Malta  adopted  its  national  waste-
management  plan  for  2021-2030.  The  Commission 
assessed this waste-management plan and found that it 
was not fully compliant with Article 28(3) of  the Waste 
Framework  Directive.  This  was  because  Malta’s  waste-
management plan lacked: (i) an assessment of the need 
including  an 
for  additional  waste 
assessment of the investments and other financial tools, 
including  for  local  authorities,  required  to  meet  those 
needs;  and  (ii)  an  assessment  of  the  need  to  close 
existing  waste  installations,  including  an  assessment  of 
the  investments  and  other  financial  tools,  including  for 
local authorities, required to meet those needs23. 

infrastructure, 

In  the  2019  EIR,  Malta  received  priority  actions  to:  (i) 
increase its landfill tax, (ii) set up separate collection for 
different  waste  streams  with  economic  instruments 
(e.g.  pay-as-you-throw  schemes);  and  (iii)  improve  the 
effectiveness  of  the  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  
(EPR)  system  for  packaging  in  line  with  the  general 
minimum 
requirements  on  EPR.  Malta’s  waste-
management  records  up  to  2019  show  there  has  been 
no  progress  in  this  area.  In  fact,  these  records  show 
there has been a deterioration in waste management in 
Malta,  as  the  landfill  rate  has  increased,  and  the 
recycling  rate  has  decreased  in  the  reported  years24. 
Therefore,  implementing  these  priority  actions  is  a 
greater  priority  than  ever  before,  and  will  help  to 
reverse  these  negative  trends,  including  for  municipal 
waste generation.     

If  the  assessment 

23  As  stated  in  Article  28(3)(c)  WFD,  both  assessments  ‘shall  be 
included in the relevant waste-management plans or in other strategic 
documents  covering  the  entire  territory  of  the  Member  State 
in  the  waste-
concerned’. 
management plan, the plan must indicate in which external document 
this assessment is provided, and this is lacking in the Maltese waste-
management plan.  
24  The  upcoming  2022  Early  Warning  Report  for  Malta  would  assess 
these  waste-management  areas  and  provide  recommendations 
accordingly. 

included 

is  not 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Malta  9 

Given the limited progress, and in light of the upcoming 
2022  ‘Early  Warning  Report’,  similar  priority  actions  to 
the ones set out in the 2019 EIR are proposed below.  

2022 priority actions 

 

 

Introduce  progressive  and  effective  economic 
instruments  to  curb  the  landfill  rate.  Channel 
those  revenues  towards  measures  to  improve 
waste  management  in  line  with  the  waste 
hierarchy. 
Ensure 
treatment  of 
recyclable  waste,  especially  the  biodegradable 

the  collection  and 

fraction of this waste, in line with the EU waste 
legislation,  including  the  recycling  targets,  and 
avoid  disposing  of  recycable  waste  in  landfill 
sites. 
Introduce  new  policies  in  line  with  the  waste 
hierarchy,  i.e.  promote  prevention,  and  make 
product  reuse  and  waste  recycling  more 
economically attractive.  
Ensure  that  the  adopted  national  waste 
management  plan  is  in  line  with  the  revised 
Waste Framework Directive. 

 

 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
2. Biodiversity and natural capital

Malta  10 

The 2030 EU biodiversity strategy adopted in May 2020 
aims to put the EU’s biodiversity on a path to recovery 
and  sets  out  new  targets  and  governance  mechanisms 
to achieve healthy and resilient ecosystems.  
In particular, the strategy sets out ambitious targets to: 
(i) protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s land area and 
30% of its sea area and integrate ecological corridors, as 
part of a true trans-European nature network;  
(ii) strictly protect at least a third of the EU’s protected 
areas,  including  all  remaining  EU  primary  and  old-
growth forests;  
(iii)  effectively  manage  all  protected  areas,  defining 
clear  conservation  objectives  and  measures,  and 
monitoring them appropriately.  
The strategy also sets out an EU nature restoration plan 
–  a  series  of  concrete  commitments  and  actions  to 
restore  degraded  ecosystems  across  the  EU  by  2030, 
and  manage  them  sustainably,  addressing  the  key 
drivers of biodiversity loss. 

The EU’s Habitats and Birds Directives are key legislative 
tools  to  deliver  on  the  targets  in  the  EU’s  biodiversity 
strategy  for  2030  and  are  the  cornerstone  of  the 
European  legislation  aimed  at  conserving  of  the  EU's 
wildlife25.  

The  Maltese  National  Biodiversity  Strategy  and  Action 
Plan  (NBSAP)  (2012-2020)  is  a  national  policy,  which 
aims  at  providing  strategic  direction  at  a  national  level 
on the management and protection of biodiversity26. 

Nature protection and restoration  

Natura  200027,  the  largest  coordinated  network  of 
protected  areas  in  the  world,  is  the  key  instrument  to 
achieve  the  objectives 
in  the  Birds  and  Habitats 
Directives. These objectives are to ensure the long-term 
protection,  conservation  and  survival  of  Europe’s  most 
valuable  and  threatened  species  and  habitats  and  the 
ecosystems  they  underpin.  Key  milestones  towards 
meeting  the  objectives  of  the  Birds  and  Habitats 
Directives  are:  (i)  the  setting  up  of  a  coherent  Natura 
2000 network; (ii) the designation of sites of community 

importance  (SCIs)  as  special  areas  of  conservation 
(SACs)28;  and  (iii)  the  setting  of  conservation  objectives 
and measures for the Natura 2000 sites.  

Setting up a coherent network of Natura 2000 sites 

Malta hosts 29 habitat types and 66 species covered by 
the  Habitats  Directive.  The  country  also  hosts 
populations of 31 bird  taxa  listed in the Birds Directive 
Annex I29.  

As shown in Figure 7, by 2021, 13.3% of the territory of 
Malta  was  covered  by  Natura  2000  sites  (EU  average 
18.5%),  with  special  protection  areas  (SPAs)  classified 
under  the  Birds  Directive  covering  5.1%  (EU  average 
12.8%),  and  SCIs  under  the  Habitats  Directive  covering 
13% (EU average 14.2%) of Malta’s territory. 

The latest assessment of the SCI part of the Natura 2000 
network  shows  that  there  are  insufficiencies  in  the 
Maltese  designation  of  protected  sites  for  marine 
habitat  types.  Further  scientific  studies  need  to  be 
undertaken for at least two habitat  types30 to yield the 
relevant  scientific 
including  for  the 
information  – 
continental  shelf  extending  beyond  25  nautical  miles 
from the Maltese coast. This would enable an informed 
choice to be made as to whether Malta should propose 
additional  SCIs.  An  infringement  case  is  open  on  this 
matter. 

Considering  both  Natura  2000  and  other  nationally 
designated protected areas,  Malta legally protects 29% 
of its terrestrial areas (EU-27 average 26%) and 5.5% of 
marine areas (EU-27 average 8%)31. Figure 6 shows the 
2020  situation  at  EU  level  for  terrestrial  and  marine 
protected-area  coverage  in  meeting  the  2030  targets 
under the EU’s biodiversity strategy. 

the  Commission 

In  2020, 
infringement 
proceedings  against  Malta  for  failure  to  complete  the 
designation of Natura 2000 sites on the islands. 

initiated 

25  These  should  be  reinforced  by  the  Nature  Restoration  Law, 
according to the new EU Biodiversity Strategy. 
26 MaltaNBSAP_2012-2020.pdf (era.org.mt) 
27  Natura  2000  comprises  Sites  of  Community  Importance  (SCIs) 
designated  pursuant  to  the  Habitats  Directive  as  well  as  Special 
Protection  Areas  (SPAs)  classified  pursuant  to  the  Birds  Directive. 
Figures  of  coverage  do  not  add  up  because  some  SCIs  and  SPAs 
‘Special  Areas  of  Conservation  (SACs)’  means  an  SCI 
overlap. 
designated by the Member States. 

28  Sites  of  Community  Importance  (SCIs)  are  designated  pursuant  to 
the  Habitats  Directive,  whereas  Special  Protection  Areas  (SPAs)  are 
designated pursuant to the Birds Directive. Figures of coverage do not 
add  up  because  some  SCIs  and  SPAs  overlap.  Special  Areas  of 
Conservation (SACs) are SCIs designated by the Member States. 
29 EEA, Article 12 dashboard, Annex I, 2020. This  counting only takes 
into account birds taxa for which information was requested. 
30  1170  –  ‘Reefs’  and 8330  –  ‘Submerged or  partially  submerged sea 
caves’. 
31 Dashboard | Knowledge for policy (europa.eu). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Figure 6: Marine & terrestrial protected area coverage, 
202132  

Figure  7:  Natura  2000  terrestrial  protected  area 
coverage, 202133  

Designating SACs and setting conservation objectives 
and measures 

The  six  year  deadline  set  by  the  Habitats  Directive  to 
designate  SCIs  as  SACs  and  draw  up  conservation 

32 EU Biodiversity Strategy Dashboard 
, indicators A1.1.1 and A1.2.1, February 2022. 
33  European  Environment  Agency,  Natura  2000  Barometer,  February 
2022. 

Malta  11 

objectives  and  measures  has  expired  for  32  sites  in 
Malta.  Site  specific  conservation  objectives  and 
measures have been drawn up for 34 terrestrial Natura 
2000  sites  (27  terrestrial  SACs  and  7  SPAs  with 
Management  Plans/Conservation  Orders,  with  6  of  the 
SACs  completely  overlapping  with  the  SPAs  and  7 
partially overlapping). However, 5 marine SCIs have not 
yet  been  designated  as  SACs  and  conservation 
objectives and measures have not yet been drawn up.  

Furthermore,  the  quality  of  the  set  conservation 
objectives  is  insufficient.  The  conservation  objectives 
that  have  been  drawn  up  appear  too  generic  and  are 
therefore  not  suitable  to  serve  as  the  required 
conservation  measures.  These  conservation  measures 
are  sometimes  not  described  with  a  sufficient  level  of 
detail,  and  do  not  cover  all  habitats  and  species  for 
which the sites have been designated. Malta is currently 
in  the  process  of  reviewing  the  existing  objectives  and 
measures  ensuring  that  they  are  based  on  the  SMART 
model along the guidance provided by the Commission. 

There  is  on-going  dialogue  between  Maltese  authorities 
and the Commission on issues relating to the drafting of 
the conservation objectives and measures for the marine 
sites.    In  2020,  the  Government  has  established  a  new 
role  for  Ambjent  Malta  related  to  habitat  restoration 
projects  and  dissemination  of  information  on  both 
Marine  and  Terrestrial  Protected  Areas  on  the  basis  of 
the draft conservation objectives. 

Progress in maintaining or restoring favourable 
conservation status of species and habitats 

To measure the performance of Member States, Article 
17  of  the  Habitats  Directive  and  Article  12  of  the  Birds 
Directive  require  reporting  on  the  progress  made 
towards  maintaining  or  restoring 
favourable 
the 
conservation status of species and habitats. 

According  to  the  report  submitted  by  Malta  on  the 
conservation  status  of  habitats  and  species  covered  by 
Article 17 of the Habitats Directive 2013-2018, the share 
of assessments for habitats in good conservation status 
in  2018  is  27.59%.  This  is  significantly  less  than  the 
43.33%  reported  under  the  previous  reporting  period 
(2007-2012).  On  protected  species,  the  share  of 
assessments  in  good  conservation  status  in  2018  was 
53.33%,  more  than  the  40.38%  reported  under  the 
previous  reporting  period  (2007-2012).    For  birds,  74% 
of the breeding species showed short-term increasing or 
stable  population  trends  (for  wintering  species  this 
figure  was  50%).  85%  of  the  breeding  species  showed 
long-term  increasing  or  stable  population  trends  (for 
wintering species this figure was 56%.  

At  the  same  time,  the  share  of  habitats 
in  bad 
conservation  status  has  dramatically  increased  from 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
to  58.62% 

in  2013-2018.  The  share  of 
6.67% 
assessments  for  species  in  bad  conservation  status  has 
slightly  increased  from  7.69%  to  8.89%.  These  changes 
between reporting cycles (submitted in 2013 and 2019) are 
due  to:  (i)  new  scientific  information;  (ii)  updates  to  the 
reporting checklist; (iii) ongoing survey efforts; (iv) revisions 
to  the  interpretation  of  habitats  at  national  level;  and  (v) 
changes  in  the  methodology  used  to  assess  some  of  the 
parameters, especially for habitats. 

The main pressures causing this bad status for habitats 
are:  (i)  development,  construction,  and  the  use  of 
industrial  and  recreational 
residential,  commercial, 
infrastructure; and (ii) alien and problematic species.  

Figure  8:  Assessments  on  conservation  status  for 
habitats  for  the  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  reporting 
periods34  

Malta  12 

Figure  9:  Assessments  on  conservation  status  for 
species  for  the  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  reporting 
periods35 

Although  there  has  been  a  dramatically  increase  in 
habitats having an unfavourable status, this needs to be 
interpreted  in  the  light  of  the  considerable  changes  in 
the  methodology  used  to  assess  the  structure  and 
functions    of  the  habitats.  Contrastingly  for  species, 
there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  number  of  species 
with a favourable conservation status and a decrease in 
the number of species in an unfavourable status36.  

of 

the 

implementation 

While  more  effort  is  required  in  ensuring  effective 
management  of  the  Natura  2000  sites,  ongoing 
additional  resources  are  being  allocated  accordingly, 
including 
conservation 
measures.  This  is  achieved  through  the  collaboration 
between  various  governmental  and  non-governmental 
entities,  amongst  others.  There  seems  to  be  a  lack  of 
progress 
in  maintaining  or  restoring  the 
favourable  conservation  status  of  species  and  habitats 
protected  under  the  Nature  Directives.  There  is  also  a 
lack  of  progress  in  effectively  managing  the  country’s 
Natura 2000 sites.  

in  Malta 

Illegal  trapping  and  killing  of  protected  species  remain 
one of the main challenges in Malta in 2018, the Court 
of  Justice  of  the  European  Union  ruled  against  the 
Malta’s  finch  trapping  derogation37  from  the  Birds 
Directive,  following  which  Malta  ended  the  trapping  of 
finches.  However,  in  2020  and  2021,  Malta  introduced 
new 
trapping  practices  under  a  research-
derogation scheme. In November 2021, the Commission 

finch 

34  European  Environment  Agency,  Conservation  status  and  trends  of 
habitats  and  species,  December  2021.    Please  note  when  comparing 
the  figures  shown  for  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  these  may  also  be 
affected by changes of methods or due to better data availability. 

35 Idem 
36 https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/state-of-nature-
in-the-eu/article-17-national-summary-dashboards 
37 CURIA - Documents (europa.eu) 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Malta  13 

-  a  50%  reduction  in  the  use  of  more  hazardous 
pesticides; 
-  a  50%  reduction  in  losses  of  nutrients  from  fertilisers 
while  ensuring  there  is  no  deterioration  of  soil  fertility 
(which  will  result  in  a  20%  reduction  in  the  use  of 
fertilisers);  
- bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-
diversity  landscape  features  and  increase  areas  under 
organic farming to at least 25%. 

As shown in the figure 10, it is estimated that 0.62% of 
Malta’s  land  area  is  under  organic  farming.  This  is  the 
worst  result  in  the  EU  and  far  from  the  EU  average  of 
9.07%  (2020  data,  Eurostat).  Malta  is  not  currently 
contributing to achieving the target to have 25% of the 
EU’s agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. 

Figure  10:  Share  of  total  utilised  agricultural  area 
occupied by organic farming per Member State, 202041  

decided38  to  refer Malta to  the  Court  of  Justice  of  the 
European  Union  for  failing  to  correctly  apply  the  Birds 
Directive39.  

for 

launched  another 
In  2020,  the  Commission  also 
infringement  proceedings  against  Malta 
its 
derogations  from  the  Birds  Directive  for  the  spring 
hunting of quail and  the  autumn live-capturing of  song 
thrush and golden plover40. These derogations fall short 
systematically  of 
the  Birds 
Directive,  in  particular  due  to  Malta’s  poor  supervision 
of  the  conditions  set  out  in  the  derogations,  which 
results  in  species  other  than  those  targeted  being 
affected.  

the  requirements 

in 

Malta has not signed and ratified the Agreement on the 
Conservation 
Migratory 
Waterbirds.  

African-Eurasian 

of 

(iii) 

In  the  2019  EIR,  the  Commission  suggested  that  Malta 
step  up  its  action  on:  (i)  the  process  of  designating 
Natura  2000  sites;  (ii)  completing  the  management 
plans for marine sites with clearly defined conservation 
objectives; 
necessary 
implementing 
conservation measures for all Natura 2000 sites; and (iv) 
providing  appropriate  resources  for  implementing  the 
Nature Directives in the fields of species and habitats of 
community  interest.  Finally,  the  Commission  urged 
Malta to take urgent action on clamping down on illegal 
practices in bird hunting and trapping. 

the 

The Commission notes very limited progress in all these 
areas.  In  fact,  implementation  results  in  some  of  these 
areas  have  deteriorated  since  the  last  report.  For  this 
reason,  the  Commission  urges  Malta  to  consider 
implementing  similar  priority  actions  for  2022  and 
beyond. 

Bringing nature back to agricultural land and restoring 
soil ecosystems 

Agricultural land  

The biodiversity strategy works alongside the new farm 
to fork strategy and the new common agricultural policy 
(CAP)  to  support  and  achieve  the  transition  to  fully 
sustainable agriculture.  
The  biodiversity  and  farm  to  fork  strategies  have  set 
four important targets for 2030:  
- a 50% reduction in the overall use of – and risk from – 
chemical pesticides; 

According  to  the  Commission  recommendations  for 
Malta’s  CAP  strategic  plan42,  the  share  of  ammonia 
emissions  from  agriculture 
is  still 
relatively high, and Malta has been found to be at high 
risk of non-compliance with its commitments to reduce 
ammonia emissions  

in  the  country 

Malta  has  a  high  risk  of  soil  erosion  and  faces  severe 
water  challenges,  both  in  terms  of  water  quantity  and 
water quality.  

Malta’s poor soil conditions constitute real obstacles to 
tackling  biodiversity  issues  and  preserving  its  habitats 
and 
landscape.  Nevertheless,  the  potential  of  the 
country’s  agricultural  sector  to  help  maintain  and 
improve  biodiversity  is  not  being  fully  exploited.  A 
positive contribution to improving biodiversity could be 

38https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_566
6 
39 EUR-Lex - 32009L0147 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu) 
40https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_20_214
2  

41 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_02_40/default/
table?lang=en (Eurostat, Area under organic farming, February 2022). 
42 EUR-Lex - 52020SC0387 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
and 
made  by  maintaining 
encouraging  voluntary  schemes  by  the  public  to  better 
manage the country’s landscape.  

landscape 

features 

Malta’s particular situation is challenging for a variety of 
reasons  including:    (i)  non-uniform  soil  depth;  and  (ii) 
the  exposure  to  climatic  conditions,  long  dry  summer 
and  a  wet  season  with  frequent  heavy  showers,  under 
which  the  soils  are  easily  eroded.  Soil  erosion 
constitutes  a  major  ongoing  problem  throughout  the 
whole Maltese countryside, especially in valleys. Erosion 
appears  to  be  on  the  increase  owing  to  several  other 
factors (e.g. lack of maintenance and/or restoration on 
derelict and collapsed retaining rubble walls; clearing of 
vegetation from uncultivated land; and abandonment of 
traditional runoff management structures). 

to 

real  obstacles 

the  potential  of 

tackling 
This  has  constituted 
issues  and  preserving  habitats  and 
biodiversity 
the 
landscape.  Nevertheless, 
improve 
agricultural  sector  to  help  maintain  and 
is  not  fully  exploited.  Maintenance  of 
biodiversity 
landscape  features  and  voluntary  schemes,  addressing 
an  enhanced  management  of  those  elements,  could 
contribute 
for 
creating/planting  new  landscape  features  could  play  a 
main role in this as well. 

direction. Investments 

this 

in 

The  agricultural  area  in  Malta  increased  from  10  250 
hectares  in  2005  to  11  580  hectares  in  2016.  This 
land  parcelling  and 
increase  has  come  alongside 
fragmentation,  even  as  the  total  farming  population  is 
decreasing.  Yet  more  than  70%  of  all  agricultural 
holdings in the country cover less than one hectare, and 
the  total  area  of  grassland  accounts  for  approximately 
4.5% of the agricultural area (527 hectares). 

Organic  farming  practices  can  benefit  biodiversity. 
However only 0.4% of total agricultural area in Malta is 
estimated to be organic, a percentage that continues to 
fluctuate.  This  is  the  lowest  share  in  the  EU.  The  EU 
average  has  progressively  increased  its  total  share  of 
agricultural  area  under  organic  management  to  reach 
8% in 2018. A major challenge for organic farming is the 
small parcel size and the fragmented nature of Maltese 
farmland. 

Soil ecosystems 

soil 

new 

strategy, 

Soil  is  a  finite  and  extremely  fragile  resource.  It  is 
increasingly degrading in the EU. 
The 
EU 
adopted 
on 
importance  of  soil 
17 November 2021,  stresses  the 
protection,  of  sustainable  soil  management  and  of 
restoring  degraded  soils  to  achieve  the  Green  Deal 
objectives  as  well  as  land-degradation  neutrality  by 
2030.  
This entails:  
(i) preventing further soil degradation;  

Malta  14 

(ii)  making  sustainable  soil  management  the  new 
normal;  
(iii) taking action for ecosystem restoration 

One factor  in the degradation  of soil ecosystems  is the 
area  of  soil  that  is  sealed  or  artificialised43.  In  Malta 
(Figure 11), the net land taken (land ‘taken’ means land 
that is sealed or artificialised) per year in 2012-2018 can 
be  seen  as  a  measure  of  one  significant  pressure  on 
nature and biodiversity – land-use change. At the same 
time,  land-use  change  constitutes  an  environmental 
pressure on people living in urbanised areas.  

Despite  a  reduction  in  the  last  decade  (land  take  was 
over 1 000 km2/year in the EU-28 between 2000-2006), 
land take in the EU-28 still amounted to 539 km2/year in 
2012-201844.  The  concept  of  ‘net  land  take’  combines 
land  take  with  the  return  of  land  to  non-artificial  land 
categories  (re-cultivation).  While  some  land  was  re-
cultivated  in  the  EU-28  in  2000-2018,  11  times  more 
land was taken than returned. 

Notwithstanding  the  above,  Malta  is  a  small,  densely 
populated  country  without  much  rural  hinterland.  The 
unit  of  measurement  used 
is  very 
disadvantageous  for  Malta.  The  10x10  km  grid  used  as 
resolution  in  the  EEA  data,  is  not  detailed  enough  for 
Malta. 

(m2/km2), 

Figure 11 shows that Malta ranks the worst in the EU for 
land  take,  with  net  land  take  of  485.8 m2/km2  (EU-27 
average: 83.8 m2/km2)45.  

land 
In  2018,  Malta  updated 
degradation  according  to  the  next  PRAIS3  reporting 
platform46  with  actions 
intended  to  remedy  the 
degradation identified. 

reporting  on 

its 

43 Artificial land cover is defined as the total of roofed built-up areas 
(including  buildings  and  greenhouses),  artificial  non  built-up  areas 
(including sealed area features, such as yards, farmyards, cemeteries, 
car  parking  areas  etc.  and  linear  features,  such  as  streets,  roads, 
railways, runways, bridges) and other artificial areas (including bridges 
and  viaducts,  mobile  homes,  solar  panels,  power  plants,  electrical 
substations, pipelines, water sewage plants, and open dump sites). 
44 Land take in Europe — European Environment Agency (europa.eu).  
45 Land take in Europe — European Environment Agency (europa.eu). 
46 All Reports | Prais3 (unccd.int) 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
Figure  11:  Land  take  and  re-cultivation  in  the  EU27 
(m2/km2), 2012-201847 

Malta  15 

favourable  conservation status50. The  share of  forested 
areas in the EU with a bad conservation status increased 
from 27% in 2015 to 31% in 2018.  

Forests  cover  only  1.4%  of  Malta’s  territory51  (EU 
average,  36.44%),  and  the  situation 
is  particularly 
worrying  as  more  than  half  of  the  assessed  protected 
forests show a bad status52.  

 Figure  12:    Conservation  status  of  forests  protected 
under  the  Habitats  Directive  in  the  EU-27,  2013-2018 
(% assessments)53 

In  2015,  the  United  Nations  Convention  to  Combat 
Desertification  reached  a  breakthrough  agreement48  to 
endorse a vision of land-degradation neutrality and link 
implementation  of  the  UN’s 
this  vision  to  the 
sustainable development goals (SDGs) in general, and to 
SDG  15.349  in  particular.  To  date,  Malta  has  not  yet 
committed to set targets for land-degradation neutrality 
under  the  United  Nations  Convention  to  Combat 
Desertification’s agreement. 

Forests and timber 

The EU forest strategy for 2030, adopted in July 2021, is 
part  of  the  ‘Fit  for  55’  package.  The  strategy  promotes 
the many services that forests provide. Its key objective 
is  to  ensure  healthy,  diverse  and  resilient  EU  forests 
that  contribute  significantly 
the  strengthened 
to 
biodiversity and climate ambitions.  
Forests are important carbon sinks and conserving them 
is vital if the EU is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050  

Of  the  27%  of  EU  forest  area  protected  under  the 
Habitats Directive, less than 15% of assessments show a 

47 European Environment Agency, Land take in Europe.  
48 The LDN Target Setting Programme | UNCCD. 
49  ‘By  2030,  combat  desertification,  restore  degraded  land  and  soil, 
including  land  affected  by  desertification,  drought  and  floods,  and 
strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.’  

The  European  Union  Timber  Regulation 
(EUTR)54 
prohibits  the  placing  on  the  EU  market  of  illegally 
harvested  timber.  According  to  the  EUTR,  EU  Member 
States’  competent  authorities  must  conduct  regular 
checks on operators and traders, and apply penalties for 
non-compliance.  With  the  amendment  of  Article  20  of 
the EUTR, reporting every 2 years has been changed to 
become annual reporting, and covers the calendar year 
as of 2019. 

EU  market  of  illegally  harvested  timber,  EU  Member 
States  Competent  authorities  must  conduct  regular 
checks on operators and traders, and apply penalties in 
case of non-compliance. With the amendment of Article 
20  of  the  EUTR,  biennial  reporting  became  annual  and 
covers the calendar year as of 2019. 

Ambjent Malta55, which was set up in 2018, implements 
habitat  restoration  measures  in  Natura  2000  sites. 
These include: (i) the removal of invasive alien species; 
(ii)  the  planting  of  indigenous  shrubs/trees;  (iii)  the 

50 EEA, State of Nature in the EU. 
51 EEA, Forest information system for Europe. 
52 COM SWD (2021) 652. 
53  European  Environment  Agency,  Conservation  status  and  trend  in 
conservation status by habitat group - forests, January 2022. 
54  Regulation  (EU)  No  995/2010  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of 
the Council of 20 October 2010. 
55 https://environment.gov.mt/en/ambjentmalta/Pages/home.aspx 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
restoration  of  rubble  walls;  (iv)  the  removal  of  illegal 
structures and regular clean ups which aims to preserve, 
conserve  and  enhance  the  natural  capital  in  line  with 
approved  management  plans56.  On  the  other  hand, 
forestry  actions  are  implemented  on  the  basis  of  a 
Forestry Strategy57 adopted in 2014. 

 In  the  period  from  March  2017  to  February  201958, 
Malta  carried  out  30  checks  on  operators  importing 
timber.  Over  the  reporting  period,  it  is  estimated  that 
Malta  had  no  operators  placing  domestic  timber  onto 
the internal market and 750 operators placing imported 
timber types onto the internal market. 

The  new  Deforestation  Regulation59  will  repeal  and 
replace  the  EUTR,  as  it  will  essentially  integrate  and 
improve  the  existing  system  to  check  the  legality  of 
timber. 

Invasive alien species (IAS) 

in 

and 

land 

changes 

IAS  are  a  key  cause  of  biodiversity  loss  in  the  EU 
(alongside 
use, 
sea 
overexploitation, climate change and pollution).  
Besides  inflicting  major  damage  on  nature  and  the 
economy,  many  IAS  also  facilitate  the  outbreak  and 
spread of infectious diseases, posing a threat to humans 
and  wildlife.  The  implementation  of  the  EU  Invasive 
Alien  Species  Regulation  and  other  relevant  legislation 
must be stepped up. The  biodiversity strategy for 2030 
aims  to  manage  recognised  invasive  alien  species  and 
decrease the number of  ‘red  list’ species they threaten 
by 50%.  

The core of the Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on IAS60 (‘the 
IAS Regulation’) is the list of IAS of Union concern.  

The  total  number  of  IAS  of  Union  concern  is  currently 
66,  of  which:  30  are  animal  species;  36  are  plant 
species;  41  are  primarily  terrestrial  species,  23  are 
primarily  freshwater  species,  1  is  a  brackish-water 
species and 1 is a marine species.  

According  to  a  2021  report61  on  the  review  of  the 
application of the IAS Regulation, the implementation of 

56  Management  Plans  for  Terrestrial  Natura  2000  Sites  in  Malta  & 
Gozo - ERA 
57https://environment.gov.mt/en/Documents/Downloads/afforestatio
nRestorationEcologyCassar.pdf 
58 COM/2020/629 final. 
59  A  proposal  for  the  Regulation  on  the  making  available  on  the  EU 
market  and  export  of  products  associated  with  deforestation  and 
forest degradation. 
60  Regulation  (EU)  No  1143/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of 
the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of 
the introduction and spread of invasive alien species 
61  Report  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council  on  the  review  of  the  application  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 

Malta  16 

identified  some  challenges  and  areas 

the  IAS  Regulation  is  already  starting  to  deliver  on  its 
objectives such as a coherent framework for addressing 
IAS at EU level and increased awareness of the problem 
of  invasive  alien  species.  At  the  same  time,  the  above 
for 
report 
for 
improvement.  Given 
deadlines 
implementing  the  various  obligations  of  the 
IAS 
Regulation applied gradually between July 2016 and July 
2019,  it  is  premature  to  draw  conclusions  on  several 
aspects of the implementation of the IAS Regulation. 

that 

the 

A  recent  report62  on  the  baseline  distribution  shows 
that  of  the  66  species  on  the  Union  list,  9  have  been 
observed  in  the  environment  in  Malta.  The  spread  of 
IAS can be seen in Figure 13. 

Figure  13:  Number  of  IAS  of  EU  concern,  based  on 
available georeferenced information for Malta, 2021 

2022 priority actions  

 

Complete 
process.  

the  Natura  2000  designation 

  Adopt  clearly  defined  conservation  objectives, 
as well as the necessary conservation measures 
for  the  marine  Natura  2000  sites  and  revise 
conservation  objectives  and  measures 
for 
terrestrial  sites, 
line  with  the  required 
standard.  Provide  additional    resources  for 
their 
to 
maintain/restore  species  and  habitats  of 

implementation 

order 

in 

in 

1143/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  22 
October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction 
and spread of invasive alien species, COM(2021) 628 final, 13.10.2021. 
62  Cardoso  A.C.,  Tsiamis  K.,  Deriu  I.,  D'  Amico  F.,  Gervasini  E.,  EU 
Regulation 1143/2014:  assessment  of  invasive  alien species of  Union 
concern  distribution,  Member  States  reports  vs  JRC  baselines,  EUR 
30689  EN,  Publications  Office  of  the  European  Union,  Luxembourg, 
2021, ISBN 978-92-76-37420-6, doi:10.2760/11150, JRC123170. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                                                      
Malta  17 

The  Commission assessed  Malta’s 2018 determinations 
of  GES  for  each  of  the  MSFD’s  11  descriptors65  and 
determined  their  level  of  adequacy  in  relation  to  the 
Commission GES Decision66. A good or very good score 
indicates  that  the 
in  the  Commission  assessment 
national determinations of GES are well aligned with the 
requirements  of  the  Commission  GES  Decision  and 
provide 
national 
and 
environmental  objectives  to  be  achieved  for  their 
marine waters. 

quantitative 

qualitative 

Figure  14:  Level  of  adequacy  of  GES  determination  by 
Malta  (MIC  region)  with  criteria  set  under  the 
Commission  GES  Decision  –  Article  9  (2018  reporting 
exercise)67 

 

 

a 

to 

interest 

favourable 
community 
conservation status across their natural range.  
Ensure  that  bird-hunting  and  bird-trapping 
practices  comply  with  the  Birds  Directive, 
strengthen  enforcement  efforts  and  invest  in 
education and awareness-raising programmes. 
Step  up 
the 
recommendations  set  out  in  the  Malta’s  CAP 
Strategic  Plan,  especially  on  cutting  ammonia 
improving  biodiversity  on 
emissions  and 
farmland  and  natural  areas 
supporting 
sustainable  management  practices  such  as 
organic farming.  

implementing 

action  on 

  Reduce 

this  end,  consider 

its  excessive  area  of  sealed  and 
atificialised soil and remediate degraded areas 
of  soil.  To 
formally 
land-degradation 
committing  to  targets  for 
neutrality  under  the  relevant  United  Nations 
Convention 
Desertification 
agreement. servation51 

Combat 

to 

Marine ecosystems 

The EU Biodiversity Strategy  2030 aims to substantially 
reduce  the  negative  impacts  on  sensitive  species  and 
habitats  in  marine  ecosystems  and  to  achieve  good 
environmental status as well as eliminate or reduce the 
incidental 
endangered, 
threatened  and  sensitive  species  to  a  level  that  allows 
species recovery and conservation63. 

protected, 

catches 

of 

The  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive  (MSFD)64 
requires Member States to achieve good environmental 
status  (GES)  for  their  marine  waters.  To  that  end, 
Member  States  must  draw  up  marine  strategies  for 
their  marine  waters,    and  cooperate  with  Member 
States  sharing  the  same  marine  region  or  subregion. 
These  marine  strategies  comprise  different  steps  to  be 
developed and implemented over six-year cycles. 

Among  other  obligations,  the  MSFD  requires  Member 
States  by  15 October 2018  to  draw  up  a  set  of  GES 
characteristics  for  each  descriptor  (Article  9),  and  to 
provide  an  initial  assessment  of  their  marine  waters 
(Article 8).  The Commission then assesses whether this 
constitutes  an  appropriate  framework  to  meet  the 
requirements of the Directive. 

63  The  EU  Common  Fisheries  Policy  (CFP)  aims  to  contribute  to  the 
achievement  of  the  objectives  of  the  environmental  legislation  for 
marine ecosystems. 
64  Directive  2008/56/EC  establishing  a  framework  for  community 
action in the field of marine environmental policy. 

Malta  has  one  marine  sub-region,  MIC-Mediterranean: 
Ionian  Sea  and  Central  Mediterranean  Sea.  In  this 
marine  sub-region,  7  out  of  11  determinations  of  GES 
were  assessed  as  good  or  very  good.  The  national 
determination of GES by Malta is coherent for  7 out of 
11 descriptors. 

The MSFD also requires that Member States  assess the 
current  environmental  status  of  their  marine  waters  in 
relation  to  the  determination  of  GES.  A  good  or  very 
good score indicates that the Member States have good 

65 Annex I of Directive 2008/56/EC. 
66  Commission  Decision  (EU)  2017/848  laying  down  criteria  and 
methodological  standards  on  good  environmental  status  of  marine 
waters  and  specifications  and  standardised  methods  for  monitoring 
and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU. 
67  Assessment  carried  out  by  the  European  Commission  of  the  data 
reported by the Member States, January 2022. Please note that only 
two sub-sections of descriptor D1 are displayed (D1-M Mammals and 
D1-B Birds). For the analysis, these two sub-sections were considered 
as a whole after averaging them. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
capabilities  to  assess  their  marine  environment 
according 
to 
Commission GES Decision.  

requirements  set  out 

the 

in 

in 
the 

Figure  15:  Level  of  adequacy  of  initial    assessment  of 
Malta’s marine environment (MIC region) with criteria 
set  under  the  Commission  GES  Decision  –  Article  8 
(2018 reporting exercise68 

Of  the  descriptors  7  out  of  11  were  scored  as  good  or 
very  good.  Malta’s  assessment  of 
its  marine 
environment  is  coherent  with  requirements  set  under 
the  Commission  GES  Decision 
for  7  out  of  11 
descriptors. 

In April 2019, Malta ratified the Protocol on Integrated 
Coastal  Zone  Management.  Malta  has  not  ratified  the 
Offshore Protocol of the Barcelona Convention in 2019. 
Maltahas  not  signed  and  ratified  the  International 
Convention  for  the  Regulation  of  Whaling  (1946); 
however,  all cetaceans (whales, porpoise and dolphins) 
are  protected  in  Malta  and  consequently  whaling  is 
prohibited  in  Malta  since  1992  via  the  Environment 
Protection Act. 

In  the  2019  EIR,  Malta  received  as  priority  actions  its 
need to: (i) define GES where it has not yet done so; (ii) 
determine  the  timelines  needed  to  achieve  GES,  when 
these  have  not  been  reported;  (iii)  provide  more 
information  about  measures;  (iv)  draw  up  more 
measures  that  have  a  direct  impact  on  the  pressures 
and  quantify  the  expected  level  of  reduction  of  the 
pressure as a result of these measures; and (v) monitor 
progress and ensure reporting of the different elements 
under the MSFD by the set deadline. Malta made some 

Malta  18 

progress  on  the  above  actions  since  the  2019  EIR. 
However,  the  results  set  out  earlier  in  this  section 
bolster  the  call  for  Malta  to  take  further  actions  to 
achieve GES in the descriptors ranked as poor in Figure 
15 above. 

As  highlighted  in  the  Commission’s  report  on  the 
implementation  of  the  MSFD69,  although  regional 
cooperation among Member States has improved since 
the  adoption  of  the  MSFD,  more  cooperation  is  still 
needed  to  attain  full  regional  coherence  of  the  marine 
strategies, as required by the Directive.  

Furthermore, in March 2022, the European Commission 
published a  Communication  with recommendations for 
Member States. The Commission assessment  highlights 
that  Member  States  need  to  step  up  their  efforts  to 
determine  the  good  environmental  status  and  the  use 
of  the  criteria  and  methodological  standards  according 
to 
the  Commission  GES  Decision.  The  above 
considerations  form  the  basis  for  the  2022  priority 
actions. 

2022 priority actions  

 

 

 

the 

Communication71 

Implement the recommendations made by the 
Commission  in  the  Staff  Working  Document70 
accompanying 
on 
recommendations  per  Member  States  and 
region on the 2018 updated reports for Articles 
8, 9 and 10 of the MSFD. 
Ensure  regional  cooperation  with  Member 
States  sharing  the  same  marine  sub-region  to 
address predominant pressures.  
Sign and ratify the International Convention for 
the Regulation of Whaling (1946). 

Ecosystem assessment and accounting  

The  EU  biodiversity  strategy  for  2030  calls  on  Member 
States  to  better  integrate  biodiversity  considerations 
into  public  and  business  decision  making  at  all  levels 
and to develop natural capital accounting. The EU needs 
a  better  performing  biodiversity  observation  network 
and  more  consistent  reporting  on  the  condition  of 
ecosystems.  

An ecosystem assessment is an analysis of the pressures 
on  –  and  the  condition  of  –  terrestrial,  freshwater  and 
marine  ecosystems  and  their  services.  It  uses  spatially 
explicit  data  and  a  comparable  methodology  based  on 

68 Idem. 

69 COM(2020)259  
70 SWD(2022)1392.  
71 COM(2022)550. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
European data about the functions of  ecosystem assets 
and the ecosystem services they produce.  

Ecosystem  accounting  is  built  on  five  core  accounts 
(ecosystem  extent,  ecosystem  condition,  physical 
ecosystem  services,  monetary  ecosystem  services  and 
monetary  ecosystem  assets).  These  accounts  are 
compiled  using  indicators  of  ecosystem  assets  and  the 
ecosystem services they produce.  

Malta has carried out  a  preliminary identification of  its 
key  ecosystems  and  ecosystem  services  as  part  of  its 
Fifth  National  Report  to  the  Convention  on  Biological 
Diversity  (CBD)72.  On  the  basis  of  this  exercise,  Malta 
has  commenced  work  to  implement  the  measures  for 
ecosystem  assessment 
its  national  biodiversity 
in 
strategy and action plan 2012-2020. This work involved: 
(i)  prioritising  ecosystems  and  ecosystem  services  for 
mapping  and  assessment;  (ii)  determining  the  level  of 
detail best applicable to Malta; (iii) identifying available 
data/data  sources  that  can  be  used  in  this  regard;  and 
(iv) identifying data gaps.  

invested 

in  capacity  building 

Malta 
for  mapping 
ecosystems through intense training of its civil servants 
in  geographic  information  systems  (GIS).  Following  a 
period  of  trial  mapping,  as  well  as  discussions  with 
national experts, Malta adopted its amended ecosystem 
typology.  Malta  also  began  officially  mapping 
ecosystems in 2017.  

Malta’s  national  Mapping  and  Assessment  of 
Ecosystems  and  their  Services  (MAES)  is  based  on  the 
ecosystem  type  classification.  To  further  enhance  the 
skills for the mapping of ecosystems, Malta has invested 
in  dedicated  GIS  training  to  raise  its  capacity  building. 
Through  this,  Malta  has  attained  further  knowledge 
in areas  related  to  the 
identification  of  ecosystem 
services,  including  through  national  projects  (such  as 
ESMERALDA73, En-Route74 and ReNature75). 

In  2021,    a  locally  funded  project  by  MCST  on  the 
Mapping  and  Monitoring  of  Posidonia  Oceanica  using 
Remote  and  Sentinel  Technology  (MAARES)76  received 
an  award.  This  project  aims  at  developing  and  testing 
novel  methodologies  to  complement  the  existing  data-
gathering  toolbox  for  sea  grass  meadows  which 
ultimately  enables  more  efficient  management  and 
conservation of P. oceanica in this epoch threatened by 
the ever-increasing anthropogenic factors and emerging 
pressures  such  as  ocean  acidification  and  rising  ocean 

72 https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/mt/mt-nr-05-en.pdf  
73 Esmeralda (esmeralda-project.eu) 
74 JRC Publications Repository (europa.eu) 
75 ReNature (renature-project.eu) 
76  Mapping  and  monitoring  of  Posidonia  oceanica  using  remote  and 
sentinel technology (MAARES) - ERA 

Malta  19 

temperatures due to climate change and marine litter.   

Malta has provided updated information  on ecosystem 
assessment  and  progress  has  been  recorded  since 
January  2016  (Figure  16).  This  assessment  is  based  on 
27  implementation  questions  and  updated  every  six 
months. 

Figure 16: ESMERALDA MAES Barometer (January 2016 
- March 2021)77 

There  are  many  platforms,  networks  and  communities 
of  practice  that  try  to  involve  businesses  in  protecting 
biodiversity.  These  business-and-biodiversity  platforms 
are  key  tools  for  promoting  and  facilitating  natural 
capital  assessments  (NCAs)  among  businesses  and 
financial-services  providers.  One  example  of  this  is  the 
Natural  Capital  Protocol  of 
the  Natural  Capital 
Coalition78.  NCAs  help  private  businesses  to  better 
understand  and  value  not  only  their  impacts  but  also 
in  so  doing 
their  dependencies  on  nature,  and 
contribute  to  the  EU’s  biodiversity  strategy.  These 
platforms  have  been  set  up  at  EU  level79  and  in  a 
number of the Member States, although not in all. 

The  Initiative  on  Business  and  Biodiversity80,  a  national 
platform  in  Malta,  has  the  objective  of  promoting  the 
introduction of biodiversity strategies within businesses 
through voluntary arrangements. 

2022 priority actions 

 

to 

support 

the  mapping  and 
Continue 
assessment  of  ecosystems  and  their  services, 
and the development of ecosystem accounting 
through  appropriate  indicators  for  integrating 
information  on  ecosystem  extent,  ecosystem 

77 European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Publication Office, EU 
Ecosystem  assessment:  summary  for  policymakers,  page  80,  May 
2021. 
78 Natural Capital Coalition, Natural Capital Protocol. 
79  Business  and  Biodiversity,  The  European  Business  and  Biodiversity 
Campaign aims to promote the business case for biodiversity in the EU 
Member  States  through  workshops,  seminars  and  a  cross-media 
communication strategy. 
80 Malta, Initiative on Business and Biodiversity.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
condition  and  ecosystem  services  (including 
some monetary values) into national accounts.  
Continue  supporting 
the  development  of 
national  business  and  biodiversity  platforms, 

 

including natural capital accounting systems to 
monitor  and  value  the  impact  of  business  on 
biodiversity. 

Malta  20 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
Malta  21 

3. Zero Pollution  

Clean air 

its 

EU  clean  air  policies  and  legislation  need  to  significantly 
improve air quality in the EU, moving the EU closer to the 
quality recommended by the WHO and curbing emissions 
of key air pollutants.  
Air  pollution  and 
impacts  on  ecosystems  and 
biodiversity  should  be  further  reduced  with  the  long-
term  aim  of  not  exceeding  critical  loads  and  levels.  This 
requires  strengthening  efforts  to  reach  full  compliance 
with EU clean-air legislation and defining strategic targets 
and actions for 2030 and beyond.  
The 2030 zero-pollution action-plan targets are to reduce 
the health impacts of air pollution by 55% and to reduce 
the  EU  ecosystems  threatened  by  air  pollution  by  25%, 
compared to 2005.  

The  EU  has  developed  a  comprehensive  suite  of  air-
quality  legislation,  which  sets  health-based  air-quality 
standards81  and  emissions-reduction  commitments82  by 
Member State for several air pollutants. 

in  Malta 

Air  quality 
is  generally  good  with  some 
exceptions.  The  latest  available  annual  estimates  (for 
2019)  by  the  European  Environment  Agency83  point  to 
Malta  suffering  about  300  premature  deaths  each  year 
(or  3  200  years  of  life  lost  (YLL))  attributable  to  fine 
concentrations84;  20  premature 
particulate-matter 
deaths  each  year  (or  200  YLL)  attributable  to  ozone 
concentrations85;  and  less  than  1  premature  death  each 
year (or less than 5 YLL)  attributable to nitrogen dioxide 
concentrations86 
87.  The  emissions  of  several  air 
pollutants have decreased significantly in Malta in recent 
years,  while  GDP  growth  has  continued  (see  graph). 
According  to  the  latest  projections  submitted  under 
the  National  Emission-Reduction 
Article  10(2)  of 

81 European Commission, 2016. Air Quality Standards 
82 European Commission, Reduction of National Emissions. 
83 European Environment Agency, Air Quality in Europe – 2021 Rapport. 
Please  see  details 
in  this  report  as  regards  the  underpinning 
methodology, p. 106. 
84  Particulate  matter  (PM)  is  a  mixture  of  aerosol  particles  (solid  and 
liquid) covering a wide range of sizes and chemical compositions. PM10 
refers  to  particles  with  a  diameter  of  10  micrometres  or  less.  PM2.5 
refers  to  particles  with  a  diameter  of  2.5  micrometres  or  less.  PM  is 
emitted from many human sources, including combustion. 
85 Low-level ozone is produced by photochemical action on pollution.  
86  NOx  is  emitted  during  fuel  combustion e.g. from  industrial  facilities 
and  the  road  transport  sector.  NOx  is  a  group  of  gases  comprising 
nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). 
87  Please  note  that  these  figures  refer  to  the  impacts  of  individual 
pollutants, and to avoid double-counting cannot be added up to derive 
a sum. 

Commitments  Directive  (NECD)88,  Malta  is  projected  to 
meet  its  emission-reduction  commitments:  (i)  for  most 
air  pollutants  covered  by  the  Directive  for  2020-2029; 
and (ii) for SO2, non-methane volatile organic compounds 
(NMVOCs), and PM2.5 for 2030 onwards. However, these 
projections  do  not  demonstrate  compliance  with  the 
commitment 
2020-2029 
for 
NMVOCs  by  2020,  or 
emissions-reduction 
commitments for NOx and NH3 from 2030 onwards. 

emissions-reduction 
the 

Malta  submitted 
programme to the Commission on 18 March 2020.  

its  national  air-pollution  control 

Figure  17:  Emission  trends  of  main  pollutants/  GDP  in 
Malta, 2005-201989 

88 Directive 2016/2284/EU. 
89 European Environment Agency. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Figure 18: PM2.5 and NOx emissions by sector in Malta 
(2019)90 

For the year 2020, no exceedances above the limit values 
set by the Ambient Air Quality Directive  were registered 
in  Malta.  However,  for  several  air-quality  zones  in  the 
country, the target values for ozone concentrations have 
not been met91.  

Malta has not yet ratified the Heavy Metals Protocol and 
the  Persistent  Organic  Pollutants  Protocol  under  the 
United  Nations  Economic  Commission  for  Europe  Air 
Convention. 

Malta  has  also  not  yet  signed  or  ratified  three 
the  Convention  on  Long-range 
agreements  under 
Transboundary Air Pollution: the Gothenburg Protocol to 
Abate  Acidification,  Eutrophication  and  Ground-level 
Ozone;  the  Persistent  Organic  Pollutants  Protocol;  and 
the Heavy Metals Protocol. 

90 European Environment Agency. 
91 European Environment Agency, Eionet Central Data Repository. 

Malta  22 

In  the  2019  EIR,  the  Commission  suggested  that  Malta 
take,  as  part  of 
its  national  air-pollution  control 
programme,  actions  to  reduce  emissions  from  its  main 
emission  sources.  As  indicated  above,  Malta  has  made 
some  progress  in  reducing  the  concentrations  of  some 
pollutants 
(SO2,  NMVOCs  and  PM2.5).  However, 
additional  efforts  are  needed  to  ensure  that  Malta  fully 
implements EU air-quality legislation. 

2022 priority actions 

 

 

Take, in the context of the National Air Pollution 
Control  Programme  (NAPCP),  actions  towards 
reducing  emissions  from  the  main  sources 
mentioned above.  
Ensure  full  compliance  with  EU  air-quality 
standards  and  maintain  downward  emissions 
trends  for  air  pollutants,  while  reducing  the 
adverse  impacts  of  air  pollution  on  human 
health  and  the  economy  to  ensure  that  future 
concentrations  of  air  pollutants  reach  WHO 
guideline values.  

  Accelerate  the  ratification  of  the  Gothenburg 
Protocol,  the  Heavy  Metals  Protocol,  and  the 
Persistent Organic Pollutants Protocol under the 
United  Nations  Economic  Commission 
for 
Europe Air Convention. 

Industrial emissions 

 The main objectives of EU policy on industrial emissions 
are to:  
(i) protect air, water and soil;  
(ii) prevent and manage waste;  
(iii) improve energy and resource efficiency;  
(iv) clean up contaminated sites.  
To  achieve  this,  the  EU  takes  an  integrated  approach  to 
the  prevention  and  control  of  routine  and  accidental 
industrial emissions. The cornerstone of the policy is the 
Industrial  Emissions  Directive  (IED)92.  The  Commission 
tabled a proposal  in April  202293. The revision seeks to 
improve the Directive’s contribution to the zero-pollution 
objective, as well as its consistency with climate, energy 
and circular economy policies. 

92  Directive  2010/75/EU  covers  industrial  activities  carried  out  above 
certain thresholds. It covers the energy industry, metal production, the 
mineral and chemical industry, waste management, and a wide range of 
industrial  and  agricultural  sectors  (e.g.  intensive  rearing  of  pigs  and 
poultry, pulp and paper production, painting and cleaning). 
93 
 European  Commission,  proposal  for  a  revision  of  the  Industrial 
Emissions Directive, 4 April 2022. The revision of the IED is performed in 
parallel to the revision of Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 on the European 
Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Malta  23 

Figure  20: Emissions to air from IED sectors and rest of 
national total air emissions in Malta, 201896 

The  overview  of  industrial  activities  regulated  by  IED 
below  is  based  on  data  reported  to  the  EU  Registry 
(2018)94. 

In Malta, 19 industrial installations are required to have a 
permit based on the IED. The distribution of installations 
is shown in Figure 19. 

industrial  sectors 

The 
in  Malta  with  the  most  IED 
installations in 2018 were the waste management sector, 
including landfills (53%), followed by the chemicals sector 
(26%) and the energy sector (21%). 

Figure  19:  Number  of  IED  industrial  installations  per 
sector in Malta, 201895 

The  environmental  burdens  for  industrial  emissions  to 
water  mainly  result:  (i)  from  the  energy  sector  for 
emissions of heavy  metals; and (ii) from aquaculture for 
emissions  of  nitrogen, 
total  organic  carbon  and 
phosphorous.  The  breakdown,  based  on  E-PRTR  data,  is 
presented in Figure 21 below.  

The  industrial  sectors 
identified  as  contributing  the 
largest  burden  to  the  environment  for  emissions  to  air 
were:  (i)  the  energy  sector  for  emissions  of  sulphur 
oxides,  nitrogen  oxides  (NOx),  mercury  (Hg)  and  arsenic 
(As); and (ii) the waste-management sector for emissions 
of dioxins. The rest of the industrial emissions are due to 
‘other  activities’ 
treatment).  The 
(mainly  surface 
breakdown is shown in the following graph. 

94 https://industry.eea.europa.eu/ 
95  European  Environment  Agency,  EU  Registry,  European  Industrial 
Emissions Portal (data retrieved on 3 November 2021).  

96  European  Environment  Agency,  LRTAP,  Air  pollutant  emissions  data 
viewer  (Gothenburg  Protocol,  LRTAP  Convention)  1990-2019  (data 
retrieved on 3 November 2021). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
  
                                                                 
Figure  21:  Relative  releases  to  water  from  industry  in 
Malta97, 201898 

Figure  22: Number of inspections in IED installations in 
2018 in Malta 99 

Malta  24 

The  EU  approach  to  enforcement  under  the  IED  creates 
direct  rights  for  the  public  to  have  access  to  relevant 
information  and  to  participate  in  the  permitting  process 
for potentially polluting installations. This empowers the 
public and NGOs to ensure that permits are appropriately 
granted  and  that  the  conditions  of  these  permits  are 
complied  with.  As  part  of  environmental  inspection, 
competent  authorities  undertake  site  visits  to 
IED 
installations  to  take  samples  and  to  gather  necessary 
information.  According  to  Article  23(4)  of  the  IED,  site 
visits must be carried out between once a year and once 
every  3  years,  depending  on  the  environmental  risks 
posed  by  the  installations.  In  2018,  Malta  undertook  47 
site  visits,  most  of  which  were  to  installations  in  the 
waste-management  sector,  including  landfills  (83%  of 
visits were to waste-management installations).  

The  development  of  best  available  techniques  (BAT) 
reference  documents  (BREFs)  and  BAT  conclusions100 
ensures  good  collaboration  between  stakeholders  and 
enables better implementation of the IED. Since the last 
EIR,  the  Commission  adopted  BAT  conclusions  for  Malta 
for:  (i)  waste  incineration;  (ii)  the  food,  drink  and  milk 
industries;  and  (iii)  for  surface  treatment  using  organic 
solvents  including  the  preservation  of  wood  and  wood 
products with chemicals. 

The  Commission  relies  on  the  efforts  of  national 
competent  authorities  to  implement  the  legally  binding 
BAT  conclusions  and  associated  BAT  emission  levels  in 
environmental permits. This should result in considerable 
and continuous reductions in pollution.  

Malta  has  not  signed  and  ratified  the  Kiev  Protocol  on 
Pollutant  Release  and  Transfer  Registers  (2009),  which 
aims  at  increasing  public  access  to  information  by  the 
setting up of coherent, nationwide pollutant release and 
transfer registers (PRTRs).  

In  the  2019  EIR,  the  Commission  suggested  that  Malta 
review  permits  to:  (i)  ensure  that  they  comply  with  the 
newly  adopted  BAT  conclusions;  and  (ii)  strengthen 
control and enforcement  to  ensure compliance with the 
BAT conclusions. These actions have been followed up by 
the  Commission  through  the  reporting  by  Malta  to  the 
EU Registry. No non-compliant permits were reported in 
2018. 

2022 priority actions 

 

Sign  and  ratify  the  Kiev  Protocol  on  Pollutant 
Release and Transfer Registers. 

97  The  heavy  metals  are  presented  both  as  a  weighted  sum  of  eco 
toxicity and human toxicity factors to illustrate both the ecological and 
human impact (based on USEtox). 
98  European  Commission,  European  Environment  Agency,  E-PRTR, 
European  Industrial  Emissions  Portal  (data  retrieved  on  3  November 
2021). 

99 EU Registry (data retrieved on 3 November 2021) 
100 BAT reference documents | Eippcb (europa.eu). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Malta  25 

According  to  Malta,  an  EEP  is  required  for  8  UTEs.  In 
2018,  7  UTEs  had  an  EEP  and  7  of  these  EEPs  had  been 
tested  over  the  last  3  years.  The  summary  is  shown  in 
Figure 28.. 

Figure 24: Situation regarding EEP in Malta, 2018105 

Major industrial accidents prevention - SEVESO 

The  main  objectives  of  EU  policy  on  the  prevention  of 
major industrial accidents are to: 
(i)  control  major  accident  hazards  involving  dangerous 
substances, especially chemicals;  
(ii)  limit  the  consequences  of  such  accidents  for  human 
health and the environment;  
(iii)  continuously  improve  prevention,  preparedness  and 
response to major accidents.  
The  cornerstone  of  the  policy  is  Directive  2012/18/EU 
(the Seveso-III Directive101). 

by 

Seveso-III 

industrial  plants 
The  overview  detailed  below  of 
regulated 
(‘Seveso 
establishments’), is based on data reported to the eSPIRS 
database  (2018)102  and  the  report  by  Malta  on  the 
implementation  of  the  Seveso-III  Directive  for  2015-
2018103. 

Directive, 

Of  the  10  Seveso  establishments 
in  Malta,  2  are 
categorised  as  lower-tier  establishments  (LTE)  and  8  as 
upper-tier establishments (UTE)  – based on the quantity 
of hazardous substances likely to be present in them. The 
UTE  are  subject  to  more  stringent  requirements.  The 
Seveso 
number 
the 
evolution 
establishments is presented in Figure 23.  

change 

of 

in 

Figure  23:  Number  of  Seveso  establishments  in  Malta, 
2011, 2014 and 2018104 

Many  Seveso  establishments  are  required  to  draw  up 
external  emergency  plans 
(EEPs).  These  EEPs  are 
essential  to  allow  proper  preparation  and  effective 
implementation  of  the  necessary  actions  to  protect  the 
environment  and  the  population  should  a  major 
industrial  accident  occur  at  a  Seveso  establishment. 

The  following  types  of  information  are  permanently 
available for 83% of the Seveso establishments in Malta: 
(i) information to the public referred to in Annex V of the 
Seveso-III  Directive  –  especially  about  how  the  public 
concerned will be warned if there is a major accident; (ii) 
information  on  the  appropriate  behaviour  if  there  is  a 
major accident; and (iii) information containing the date 
of  the  last  site  visit.  The  share  of  UTEs  for  which 
information on safety measures and requisite behaviours 
were actively made available to the public in recent years 
are presented in Figure 29. This provision on knowledge 
is  an  important  provision  of  the  Seveso-III  Directive  as 
knowledge of this information by the public may reduce 
the consequences of a major industrial accident. 

Malta has not signed and ratified the Helsinki Convention 
on  Industrial  Accidents  (as  amended  in  2015),  which 
applies  to:  (i)  the  prevention  of,  preparedness  for,  and 
industrial  accidents  capable  of  causing 
response  to 
transboundary  effects;  and  (ii)  international  cooperation 
in  the  event  of  industrial  accidents  concerning,  among 
other things, mutual assistance by signatory countries. 

for 

launched 

infringement 
In  2019, 
the  Commission 
failing  to  correctly 
proceedings  against  Malta 
transpose  the  SEVESO 
III  Directive.  The  grievances 
encompass  internal  emergency  plans,  information  to 
competent  authority  of  the  major  accident  prevention 
policy  and  safety  report,  public  consultation,  and  access 
to review and penalties.  

101  Directive  2012/18/EU  on  the  control  of  major-accident  hazards 
involving dangerous substances 
102 European Commission, Seveso Plants Information Retrieval System  
103 As provided for by Article 21(2) of the Seveso-III Directive 
104 European Commission, Assessment and summary of Member States’ 
implementation  reports  for 
Implementing  Decision  2014/896/EU 
(implementing  Directive  2012/18/EU  on  the  control  of  major  accident 
hazards involving dangerous substances), 2022. 

105 Idem. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Figure 25: Share of UTE for which information on safety 
measures and requisite behaviours were actively made 
available to the public in Malta, 2011, 2014 and 2018106 

2022 priority actions 

 

 

Strengthen  the  control  and  enforcement  of  the 
Seveso-III Directive, especially on information to 
the public and EEP. 
Sign and ratify the Helsinki TEIA Convention. 

Noise 

The  Environmental  Noise  Directive107  provides  for  a 
common  approach  to  avoid,  prevent  and  reduce  the 
harmful  effects  of  exposure  to  environmental  noise, 
although  it  does  not  set  noise  limits  as  such.  The  main 
instruments  it  uses  in  this  respect  are  strategic  noise 
mapping  and  planning.    A  relevant  2030  zero  pollution 
action  plan  target  is  a  reduction  by  30%  of  the  share  of 
people 
transport  noise 
compared to 2017.  

chronically  disturbed  by 

Excessive noise from aircraft, railways and roads is one of 
the  main  causes  of  environmental  health‐related  issues 
in  the  EU.  It  can  cause  ischaemic  heart  disease,  stroke, 
interrupted  sleep,  cognitive  impairment  and  stress108.  In 
Malta,  overall  exposure  to  excessive  noise  in  2012,  the 
latest year with complete data, was 64 000 people. 

In  Malta,  based  on  a  limited  set  of  data,  environmental 
noise is estimated to cause at least around 10 premature 
deaths and 20 hospital admissions annually109. Moreover, 

106 Idem. 
107 Directive 2002/49/EC 
108  WHO  2018,  Environmental  Noise  Guidelines  for  the  European 
Region 
109These  figures  are  an  estimation  by  the  European  Environmental 
Agency  based  on:  (i)  the  data  reported  by  Member  States  on  noise 
exposure  covered  by  Directive  2002/49/EC;  (ii)  ETC/ATNI,  2021,  Noise 
indicators under the Environmental Noise Directive 2021: Methodology 
for  estimating  missing  data,  ETC/ATNI  Report  No  2021/06,  European 
Topic Centre on Air Pollution, Transport, Noise and Industrial Pollution; 
and  (iii)  the  methodology  for  health  impact  calculations,  ETC/ACM, 

Malta  26 

some  3  000  people  in  Malta  suffer  from  sleep  that  is 
disturbed  by  environmental  noise.  Based  on  the  latest 
full set of information that has been analysed, Malta has 
completed  its  noise  mapping  and  its  noise  planning  of 
agglomerations and roads. This noise mapping and noise 
planning was adopted after a public consultation. 

Water quality and management 

EU  legislation  and  policy  requires  that  the  impact  of 
pressures  on  transitional,  coastal  and  fresh  waters 
(including  surface  and  ground  waters)  be  significantly 
reduced.  Achieving,  maintaining  or  enhancing  a  good 
status  of  water  bodies  as  defined  by  the  Water 
Framework Directive  will  ensure that EU citizens benefit 
from good quality and safe drinking and bathing water. It 
will  further  ensure  that  the  nutrient  cycle  (nitrogen  and 
phosphorus)  is  managed  in  a  more  sustainable  and 
resource-efficient way . 

Water Framework Directive 

is 

(WFD)110 

The  Water  Framework  Directive 
the 
cornerstone of EU water policy in the 21st century111. The 
WFD  and  other  water-related  directives112  set  the 
framework 
integrated  water 
sustainable  and 
management, which aims at a high level of protection of 
water resources, prevention of further deterioration and 
restoration to good status.  

for 

By March 2022, all Member States are asked to submit to 
the  Commission  the  third generation  of  river-basin 
management  plans  (RBMPs)  required  under  the  WFD. 
Malta  has  not  yet  reported  it.  These  RBMPs  will  be 
subject to a Commission assessment.  

Implementation 

Report113,  which 

The  Commission  also  published  in  December  2021  the 
6th 
assesses 
implementation  of  the  WFD  and  the  Floods  Directive. 
This 
the 
an 
implementation  of  the  programmes  of  measures  and  of 
the  new  priority  substances.  The  assessment  report  for 

assessment 

includes 

report 

of 

2018,  Implications  of  environmental  noise  on  health  and  wellbeing  in 
Europe, Eionet Report ETC/ACM No 2018/10, European Topic Centre on 
Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation. 
110 The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). 
111 The EU Water Policy. 
112  This 
includes  the  Groundwater  Directive  (2006/118/EC),  the 
Environmental  Quality  Standards  Directive  (2008/105/EC),  the  Floods 
Directive  (2007/60/EC),  the  Bathing  Water  Directive  (2006/7/EC),  the 
Urban  Waste  Water  Treatment  Directive  (91/271/EEC),  the  new 
Drinking  Water  Directive  (2020/2184/EC),  the  Nitrates  Directive 
(91/676/EEC),  the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive  (2008/56/EC) 
and the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU). 
113  See  the  6th  Implementation  Report  of  the  WFD  and  the  Floods 
Directive. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                                                        
in 

that 

the  main  measures 

the 
Malta114  shows 
programme  of  measures 
that  were  subsequently 
included  in  Malta’s  second  round  of  RBMPs  have  made 
good  progress.  Out  of  97  measures  in  Malta’s  second 
round of RBMPs, 87% are ongoing or were in progress at 
the time of reporting. Around 9% of these measures had 
been  completed  both  in  terms  of  substance  and  timing 
when Malta reported its RBMPs, while 4% will have been 
completed  in  the  second  half  of  2020.  Procurement 
procedures are already in place for the commissioning of 
these measures. 

Based  on  the  reporting  on  the  second  round  of  RBMPs 
and data published in 2020115, 36.8% of all surface water 
bodies116  in  Malta  have  reached  good  ecological  status 
(with  unknown  ecological  status for  52.6%  of  all  surface 
water  bodies) while only  52.6% have  good  chemical 
status. For  groundwater  bodies,  80.0%  failed  to  achieve 
good chemical status and 13.3% are in poor quantitative 
status.   

Figure  26  below  illustrates  the proportion  of  surface 
water  bodies in Malta and  other  European  countries 
that failed to achieve good ecological status.  

Figure  26:  Proportion  of  surface  water  bodies  (rivers, 
lakes, transitional and coastal waters) in less than good 
ecological status per river basin district117 

The  Figure  27  below  presents  the  percentage of surface 
water bodies in Malta and other European countries that 
fail  to  achieve  good  chemical  status.   For  Malta,  the 
percentage is 47.4%, if one includes water bodies failing 

114  European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Assessment  of  Member  States’  progress  in  Programmes  of  Measures 
during  the  second  planning  cycle  of  the  Water  Framework  Directive. 
Member State: Malta, 2022. 
115 WISE Freshwater (europa.eu). 
116  Rivers,  lakes,  transitional  waters,  coastal  waters,  and  territorial 
waters. 
117 European Environment Agency, 2O21.   

Malta  27 

due  to  the  presence  in  them  of  substances  behaving  as 
ubiquitous  PBTs  (persistent,  bio-accumulative,  or  toxic 
substances).  Without  uPBTs,  100%  of  surface  water 
bodies  in  Malta  would  have  reached  good  chemical 
status.  

Figure  27.  Percentage  of  surface  water  bodies  not 
achieving good chemical status118 

Under  the  IED  framework,  it  should  be  stressed  that 
Malta  showed  the  last  decade  a  significant  decrease 
(94.7%) in industrial releases of heavy metals like Cd, Hg, 
Ni, Pb, but a slight increase (0.7%) in TOC to water119. 

The total water abstracted annually in Malta from surface 
and  groundwater  sources was 49.95 hm3  in  2019  (EEA, 
2022).  Figure  288  shows  how  this  water  is  used  and  by 
what sector. Of this abstracted water, 50.81% is used for 
agriculture,  30.01%  for  public  water  supply,  17.16%  for 
electricity  cooling,  and  2.01%  for  manufacturing.  Malta 
has  identified  over-abstraction  issues  at  groundwater-
level.  Malta uses  a  register to  monitor  water 
body 
abstractions 
of 
groundwater. The 
groundwater  sources  is  not  publicly  available.  Where  a 
source  has  been  marked  for  exemption  from  checks  on 
its  groundwater-abstraction  meter,  no  record  is  kept  of 
this  by 
the  competent  authority.  No  competent 
authorities  are  responsible  for  updating  and  managing 
water-abstraction  registers,  unlike  the  situation  which 
exists  for  abstraction  from  fresh  surface-water  sources, 
which is being monitored. 

register 

from 

118 European Environment Agency, December 2019. 
119 European Environment Agency, 2022 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
  
 
                                                                 
Figure 28. Water abstraction per sector in Malta120 

plus 
water-exploitation 
In Malta, the 
(WEI+)121 is 18.54%,  which  is  slightly less than  the  20% 
that is generally considered 
water 
scarcity122. Malta is ranked fifth (with first place indicating 
extreme water scarcity) in the EU in the WEI+. 

indicate 

index 

to 

Figure  29.  Water  exploitation  index  plus  (WEI+)  inside 
EU, 2017123 

A successful LIFE project124 is being developed in Malta in 
the  field  of  water  management.  The  most  important 
outcomes  of  the  project  to  date  include  the  needed 
baseline  assessments  for  Malta  on  water  demand  and 
supply  and  availability  and  market  penetration  of  water 
efficient  technologies  as  well  as  the  identification  of 
industrial pollution sources, of emerging contaminants of 
concern,  and  of  the  input  needs  of  the  hydrographic 
model  for  Malta's  marine  waters.  A  particularly  worth-
the  set-up  of  a  complex 
noting  achievement 
geographic information system that brings together data 

is 

120  European  Environment  Agency, Water  abstraction  by  source  and 
economic sector in Europe, 2022. 
121 The water-exploitation index plus (WEI+) is a measure of total fresh 
water  use  as  a  percentage  of  renewable  fresh  water  resources 
(groundwater and surface water) at a given time and place. It quantifies 
how  much  water  is  abstracted  and  how  much  water  is  returned  after 
use to the environment. 
122  By  May  2022,  the  EEA  will  develop  a  seasonal  WEI+  at  river  basin 
and NUTS2 level, which will provide a more complete picture of water 
stress and water scarcity for each Member State. 
123 European Environment Agency, Water exploitation Index Plus, 2022. 
124 
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/details/4816 

Malta  28 

valleys’ 

collected  on 

catchments 
available  and 
classification  and  ecosystem  services  mapping.  This  has 
provided Maltese authorities, for the first time, with GIS 
platform  and  skilled  personnel  to  be  able  to  respond  to 
is  the 
WFD  needs.  Another 
elaboration of the Master Plans and Technical Guidelines 
for 16 Valley Catchments in the Maltese Islands through 
an articulated participatory process.  

important  achievement 

Floods Directive 

As  mentioned  above,  the  Commission  published 
in 
December  2021  the  6th  Implementation  Report,  which 
assesses  the  implementation  of  both  the  WFD  and  the 
Floods Directive. The report includes a review and update 
of the preliminary flood-risk assessments drawn up by all 
Member States during the second cycle (2016-2021). 

Within the Commission’s 6th Implementation Report, the 
Commission  carried  out  a  review  of  the  preliminary 
flood-risk  assessment  drawn  up  by  Malta125.  This  review 
shows that a methodology is in place in Malta to identify 
the  risk  of  future  floods,  and  that  this  methodology 
includes  an  assessment  of  all  potential  consequences. 
However,  the  methodology  in  this  report  contains  no 
definition of ‘significant impacts’, which means that there 
is  no  way  to  identify  previous  floods  in  Malta  that  had 
significant  adverse 
impacts  of  climate 
impacts.  The 
change to the phenomenon of flooding should be clearly 
taken  into  consideration,  and  the  impact  of  further 
urbanisation, as well.  

Malta  has  not  yet  reported  the  second  generation  of 
Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) under the Floods 
Directive. The European Commission will assess progress 
since  the  adoption  of  the  first  Flood  Risk  Management 
Plans and publish a new report, as done in 2019. 

Drinking Water Directive 

On  the  Drinking  Water  Directive126,  no  new  assessment 
of the quality of drinking water is available since the 2019 
EIR. The quality of drinking water in  Malta has not been 
indicated as an area of concern.  

The  recast  Directive  127entered  into  force  on  12  January 
2021, and Member States have until 12 January 2023 to 
transpose  it  into  their  national  legal  system.  Malta  will 
have to comply with these reviewed quality standards. 

125  European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Assessment  of  Second  Cycle  Preliminary  Flood  Risk  Assessments  and 
Identification  of  Areas  of  Potential  Significant  Flood  Risk  under  the 
Floods Directive: Member State: Malta, 2022. 
126 OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32–54. 
127 OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1–62. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Bathing Water Directive 

Nitrates Directive 

Malta  29 

On  the Bathing Water Directive,  Figure 35  shows that  in 
2020,  84  Maltese  bathing  waters,   (96.6%)  were  of 
excellent  quality128  and  3  bating  wasters  (3.4%)  of  good 
quality. No bathing waters were found to be of sufficient 
or poor quality.  

Figure  30:  Bathing  water  quality  in  Europe  in  the  2020 
season129 

 Figure 31: Bathing water quality 2017-2020130 

The latest Commission Report on the implementation of 
the  Nitrates  Directive131,  refers  to  the  period  2016-
2019132.  This  report  warns  that  nitrates  are  still  causing 
harmful pollution to water in the EU. Excessive nitrates in 
water are harmful to both human health and ecosystems, 
causing  oxygen  depletion  and  eutrophication.  Where 
national authorities and farmers have cleaned up waters, 
it has had a positive impact on drinking-water supply and 
on biodiversity. It has also benefited the sectors – such as 
fisheries  and  tourism  –  that  depend  on  biodiversity  and 
on  a  good  supply  of  drinking  water.  Nevertheless, 
excessive fertilisation remains a problem in many parts of 
the EU.  

According  to  this  report,  groundwater  quality  in  the  EU 
improved  since  the  adoption  of  the  Directive. 
has 
However,  further  improvement  in  groundwater  quality 
has  been  very  slow  since  2012.  A  high  percentage  of 
groundwater-monitoring  stations  still  show  levels  that 
are  above  the  maximum  of  50 mg nitrate/litre  in  six 
Member States  – including Malta  – which  are  facing the 
greatest  challenges  in  tackling  nutrient  pollution  from 
agriculture.  There  have  been  considerable  efforts  from 
most  Member  States  and  farmers  to  design  and  apply 
measures to mitigate nitrate losses in waters. But in spite 
of  these  efforts,  the  water-quality  data  show  that  the 
level  of  implementation  and  enforcement  are  still  not 
sufficient at the broader EU level to reach the objectives 
of the Directive. Twelve Member States, including Malta, 
have recorded bad water quality all around their territory 
and have a systemic problem in managing nutrient losses 
from agriculture. Although there has been a  decrease in 
the  phosphate  balance  in  Malta  since  2008,  the  balance 
is still greater than 20 kg/ha.  

Malta  had  a  high  surplus  for  nitrogen  and  phosphorus 
from  2000  to  2015  and  is  one  of  the  Member  States 
facing  the  greatest  challenges 
in  tackling  nutrient 
pollution  from  agriculture.  Regrettably,  Malta  has  not 
provided 
information  to  the  Commission  about  the 
contribution  of  its  agriculture  to  nitrogen  discharges  in 
the  aquatic  environment  for  the  2016-2019  reporting 
period. 

There is a very well-established network of groundwater-
monitoring  stations  in  Malta.  Nitrate  concentrations  of 
groundwater are very high, but they slightly improved in 
2016-2019  compared  to  2012-2015.  None  of  Malta’s 
coastal or marine waters are eutrophic. 

128  European  Environment  Agency,  2021.  State  of  bathing  water  — 
European Environment Agency (europa.eu)  , p. 17. 
129 European Environment Agency, Bathing Water Quality in 2020, 2022. 
130  European  Environment  Agency,  European  Bathing  Water  Quality  in 
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. 

131 Implementation of the Nitrates Directive in the EU. 
132 Last implementation report 2016-2019. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 

Malta  has  encountered  difficulties 
its 
obligations  under  the  Urban  Waste  Water  Treatment 
Directive  (UWWTD).  According  to  the  Commission’s 
report133, the UWWTD requires Malta to provide in urban 
areas: 

in  meeting 

 
Collection of 0.9 million p.e. of waste water 
  Biological treatment of  0.9 million p.e. of waste 

water 
  Biological 

treatment  with nitrogen 

removal 

of  0.1 million p.e. of waste water 

Figure  32: Proportion of urban waste water that  meets 
all  requirements  of  the  UWWTD  (collection,  biological 
treatment,  biological  treatment  with  nitrogen  and/or 
phosphorus  removal)  in  compliant  urban  areas  of  the 
UWWTD (‘compliance rate’), 2018134 

Malta has 3 agglomerations covered by the UWWTD, and 
2 of these have still compliance issues.  

In  February135  2022,  the  Commission  decided  to  refer 
Malta  to  the  European  Court  of  Justice  for  its  failure  to 
ensure compliance with the UWWTD in the Malta North 
and  Malta  South  agglomerations.  The  Commission’s  key 
concerns  relate  to  the  discharge  of  farmyard  waste 
(animal  manure)  into  the  urban  wastewater  system,  a 
long-standing problem in Malta, for which the authorities 
were  trying  to  find  solutions.  Despite  some  progress, 
Malta has not fully addressed the grievances. 

Malta  30 

In  the  2019  EIR,  Malta  received  priority  actions  on:  (i) 
completing  the  monitoring  schemes  for  the  quantitative 
status  of  groundwater;  (ii)  water  scarcity  and  over-
abstraction issues; (iii) enforcement measures to prevent 
and  reduce  nitrate  pollution;  (iv)  excess  discharges  of 
farm manure in the collecting systems and the intrusion 
of  seawater 
the 
prioritisation of measures in the next round of flood-risk 
management  plans.  The  Commission  has  noted  limited 
progress in these areas, especially in issues such as water 
scarcity  and  over-abstraction;  nitrate  enforcement;  and 
flood-risk  management.  In  addition,  the  situation  with 
implementation  of  the  UWWTD  raises  serious 
the 
concern.  

into  sewage  systems;  and 

(v) 

2022 priority actions 

 

in 

from 

pollution 

agriculture 

  Assess  new  physical  modifications  of  water 
bodies  in  line  with  Article  4(7)  of  the  WFD. 
Consider 
these  assessments  alternative 
options and adequate mitigation measures. 
Continue  current  efforts  to  further  reduce 
nitrates 
in 
groundwater.  Continue  efforts  on  monitoring 
inland  and 
for  nitrate 
transitional  waters 
pollution. 
Efforts  should  be  done 
the 
coordinated  implementation  of  water,  marine 
and nature policies. 
Complete  the  implementation  of  the  UWWTD 
for  all  agglomerations,  by  building  up  the 
necessary 
the 
separation of farmyard waste. 

infrastructure. 

improve 

ensure 

to 

to 

 

 

Chemicals 

The EU seeks to ensure that chemicals are produced and 
used  in  a  way  that  minimises  any  significant  adverse 
effects  on  human  health  and  the  environment.  In 
October  2020,  the  Commission published  its  chemicals 
strategy  for  sustainability 
'Towards  a  Toxic-Free 
Environment'136  which  led  to  some  systemic  changes  in 
EU  chemicals  legislation.  The  strategy is  part  of  the  EU's 
zero-pollution  ambition  –  a  key  commitment  of  the 
European Green Deal 

- 

legislation137 provides  a  baseline 
The  EU’s  chemicals 
protection for human health and the environment. It also 
ensures  stability  and  predictability 
for  businesses 
operating within the internal market.  

Since 2007, the Commission has gathered information on 

133 Country profiles on urban waste water treatment (europa.eu) 
134 European Commission, WISE Freshwater, 2021. 
135 To be adopted 17 February. 

136 COM(2020) 667 final. 
137  REACH: OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p.1. -  CLP: OJ L 252, 31.12.2006, p.1 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Malta  31 

2019  were  only  10  on  the  REACH  Regulation  and  21  on 
the  CLP  Regulation.  The  main  topics  of  the  enquiries 
related to REACH are unknown and little information was 
reported by Malta on awareness-raising activities carried 
out by the Maltese competent authority. 

The 2019 EIR did not set priority actions in Malta due to a 
lack  of  significant  data.  Based  on  the  2020  enforcement 
reports,  the  Commission  has  identified  the  following 
shortcomings which call for priority actions in Malta. The 
first shortcoming is resources: more resources should be 
allocated to REACH and  CLP  enforcement142. This  can be 
seen  in  the  88  REACH  controls  in  the  reporting  period, 
several  controls  that  remain  below the  EU  average. The 
second 
controls 
(inspections)  also  remain  below  the  EU  average143. The 
is  that  the  percentage  of  non-
third  shortcoming 
compliance cases out of the total number of REACH and 
CLP controls is slightly below the EU average. 

that  proactive 

shortcoming 

is 

Figure  33:  Percentage    of  non-compliance  cases  out  of 
the  total  number  of  REACH  and  CLP  controls  during 
2019  per  Member  State  and  compared  to  the  EU 
average144 

Labelling  and  Packaging 

the  enforcement  of  the  Regulation  on  the  Registration, 
Evaluation,  Authorisation  and  Restriction  of Chemicals 
the  Regulation  on 
(the  REACH  Regulation)  and 
Classification, 
(the  CLP 
Regulation). In December 2020, the Commission assessed 
the  Member  States’  reports  on  the  implementation  and 
enforcement  of  these  Regulations138,  in  line  with  Article 
117(1)  of  the  REACH  Regulation  and  Article  46(2)  of  the 
CLP  Regulation.  According  to  the  latest  available  data, 
national enforcement structures have not changed much. 
However,  it  is  apparent  from  this  report  that  there  are 
still many disparities in the implementation of the REACH 
and  CLP  Regulations,  notably 
law 
enforcement.  Recorded  compliance  levels  in  Member 
States seem to be quite stable over time, but with a slight 
worsening  trend,  which  is  likely  due  to:  (i)  enforcement 
authorities  being  more  effective 
in  detecting  non-
compliant  products/companies;  and  (ii)  more  non-
compliant products being put on the EU market.  

in  the  area  of 

In August 2021, the Commission published a  measurable 
assessment  of  the  enforcement139  of  the  two  main  EU 
Regulations on chemicals (the REACH Regulation and the 
CLP  Regulation)  using  a  set  of  indicators  on  different 
aspects of enforcement. 

In  Malta,  responsibility  for  checking  compliance  with 
both  the  REACH  and  CLP  Regulations  lies  with  the 
Consumer  Affairs  Authority140 
Competition 
(MCCAA). In  Malta,  only  2  staff  members  from  the 
MCCAA are allocated to REACH and CLP enforcement. 

and 

Since  2020,  Malta  continued  to  strengthen  its  resources 
for the REACH-CLP enforcement by another 2.5 Full Time 
Employees (FTE). In addition, 4 staff members within the 
MCCAA  within  the  Ministry  for  Tourism  (MFT)  support 
the enforcement activities through quality assurance and 
administrative functions. 

Malta  has  devised  and  partially  implemented  only  a 
REACH  enforcement  strategy,  but  has  not  indicated 
whether it follows the strategy devised by the Forum for 
Exchange  of  Information  on  Enforcement141.  Moreover, 
Malta has no plans to devise a CLP enforcement strategy, 
although  it  had  indicated  that  such  a  strategy  had  been 
implemented in the previous reporting period (i.e. such a 
strategy  had  been  implemented  in  2012-2015).  The 
number  of  enquiries  received  by  Maltese  helpdesks  in 

138 European Commission, Final Report, on the operation of REACH and 
CLP, Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu). 
139  European  Commission,  REACH  and  CLP  enforcement:  EU  level 
enforcement indicators. 
140 Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu), p. 70 
141 Idem, p. 76. 

142 European Commission, Final Report, on the operation of REACH and 
CLP, Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu), p. 75. 
143 Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu), p. 95. 
144 European Commission, Final Report, on the operation of REACH and 
CLP, pp.87-88, 2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
2022 priority actions 

  Upgrade  the  implementation  and  enforcement 
zero 
capacities 

towards  a 

administrative 
tolerance of non-compliances. 

Malta  32 

  Devise and implement  strategies  to  enforce the 

REACH and CLP Regulations. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
4. Climate action 

Malta  33 

industry, 

law  also 

transport, 

In  line  with  the  Paris  Agreement  and  as  part  of  the 
European  Green  Deal,  the  European  Climate  Law  sets 
the EU target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and 
reducing  greenhouse  gas  (GHG)  emissions  by  55%  by 
2030  compared  to  1990.  The 
limits  the 
contribution  that  carbon  removals  can  make  towards 
emission  reductions  in  2030  to  ensure  a  sufficient 
mitigation  effort.  The  EU  and 
its  Member  States 
submitted updated Nationally Determined Contribution 
(NDC)  to  the  UNFCCC  in  December  2020.  The  EU  is 
working  across  all  sectors  and  policies  to  cut  GHG 
emissions  and  make  the  transition  to  a  climate-neutral 
and  sustainable  economy,  as  well  as  addressing  the 
unavoidable  consequences  of  climate  change.  EU 
incentivises  emissions  reductions 
climate 
legislation 
from  power  generation, 
the 
maritime sector and fluorinated gases (F-gases) used in 
products. For road transport, EU legislation requires the 
GHG intensity of vehicle fuels to be cut  by 6% by 2020 
compared  to  2010145  and  sets  binding  GHG  emission 
standards  for  different  vehicle  categories146.  Under  the 
F-gas Regulation, the EU’s F-gas emissions will be cut by 
two  thirds  by  2030  compared  with  2014  levels.  From 
2021,  emissions  and  removals  of  GHGs  from  LULUCF 
have  been 
in  the  EU  emission-reduction 
efforts.  The  EU  adaptation  policy  is  an  integral  part  of 
the  European  Green  Deal.  From  2021,  Member  States 
are  required  to  report  on  their  national  adaptation 
policies147, as the EU Climate Law recognises adaptation 
as a key component of the long-term global response to 
climate  change.  Member  States  will  be  required  to 
adopt  national  strategies,  and  the  EU  will  regularly 
assess  progress  as  part  of  its  overall  governance  on 
climate  action.  The  updated  EU  adaptation  strategy, 
published  in  February  2021,  sets  out  how  the  EU  can 
adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change and 
become climate resilient by 2050. 

included 

Key national climate policies and strategies 

Malta  has  an  integrated  national  energy  and  climate 
plan  for  2021-2030.  This  plan  is  also  consistent  with 
Malta’s  long-term  low-carbon  development  strategy 
(October 2021), its long-term renovation strategy (2021) 
and  its  long-term  waste-management  plan  (2020).  The 
national objective is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. 
The  long-term  strategy  examines  the  measures  to  cut 
emissions across the Maltese economy, in line with the 
EU  goal  of  climate  neutrality  by  2050.  The  low-carbon 
development  strategy  operates  on  a  five  year  policy 
cycle, as mandated in the amended Climate Action Act, 
which was adopted in 2015. This Act provides nationally 
binding legal obligations for coordinated governance to 
deal with climate issues. 

Malta  allocates  nearly  54%  of  its  RRP’s  spending  to 
climate  objectives  and  environmental  objectives.  The 
RRP  also  outlines  crucial  reforms  and  investments  to 
further  the  green  transition,  including  investments  in 
reducing  transport  emissions  by  electrification  and 
modal shift, and in improving energy efficiency in public 
buildings  including  investments  in  renewable  energy 
(more details in Chapter 5). 

first  national  climate  change  adaptation 
Malta’s 
strategy was published in 2012. The Climate Action Act 
includes  an  obligation  to  update  periodically  (at  least 
every  4  years)  the  national  climate-change  adaptation 
strategy.  

The  country’s  greenhouse  gas  emissions  decreased  by 
17%  between  1990  and  2020.  Both  the  emissions 
intensity  of  its  economy  and  emissions  per  capita  are 
lower than the EU average. 

Figure  34:  Total  greenhouse  gas  emissions  (incl. 
international aviation) in Malta,  1990-2020 

145  The Fuel  Quality  Directive (Directive 98/70/EC)  sets  strict  quality 
requirements  for  fuels  used  in  road  transport  in  the  EU  to  protect 
human  health  and  the  environment,  and  to  make  road  travel  across 
the EU safer. 
146 Directive 98/70/EC. 
147 Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
Effort sharing 

For emissions not covered by the EU’s emissions trading 
scheme  (ETS),  Member  States  have  binding  national 
targets  under  the  Effort  Sharing  legislation148.  Malta’s 
target under the EU legislation is to limit the increase in 
its emissions not covered by the ETS (such as buildings, 
road transport, agriculture, small industry and waste) to 
5% by 2020, and then reduce these emissions by 19% by 
2030  compared  to  2005.  Ongoing  efforts  to  cut 
emissions  do  not  appear  sufficient  to  achieve  Malta’s 
reduction  targets.  In  2020,  emissions  are  projected  to 
be  17%  above  the  2005  level.  Malta  has  the  highest 
relative cap of any Member State to its European 2030 
domestic  greenhouse  gas  emissions  reduction  target 
compared to its 2005 emissions levels. Malta’s national 
energy  and  climate  plan  projects  that  the  country’s 
emissions  will  increase  by  +41%  between  2005  and 
2030.  Without  additional  measures,  Malta’s  emissions 
in  the  effort  sharing  sectors  are  set  to  increase  for  the 
period 2021-2030.  

Figure  35:  Emissions  and  targets  under  the  Effort 
Sharing  Decision/  Effort  Sharing  Regulation  2020  and 
2030 as percentage change from 2005 

148 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 

Malta  34 

Figure  36:  Emissions,  annual  emission  allocations 
(AEAs) and accumulated surplus/ deficit of AEAs under 
the Effort Sharing Decision in Malta, 2013-2020 

Key sectoral developments 

In  road  transport,  the  GHG  intensity  of  vehicle  fuels  in 
Malta  decreased  by  4.3%  from  2010  to  2019.  The 
country  needs  to  act  swiftly  to  meet  the  current  EU-
wide reduction target of  a 6% decrease by 2020. There 
are several types of action that Member States can take 
in this regard, for example: (i) further expanding the use 
of electricity in road transport; (ii) supporting the use of 
biofuels  and  advanced  biofuels 
in  particular;  (iii) 
incentivising  the  development  and  deployment  of 
renewable  fuels  of  non-biological  origin;  and  (iv) 
reducing upstream emissions before refining processes. 

Road transport in 2020 in Malta represented 27% of the 
transport 
total  greenhouse  gas  emissions.  Road 
emissions  are  steadily  growing  and  emissions  have 
increased  by  35%  compared  to  2005.  Several  policy 
measures,  recently  put  in  place  or  planned,  have  the 
potential  to  promote  sustainable  transport.  Current 
policies  encourage  the  uptake  of  electric  vehicles.  The 
government  has  also  renewed  grant  schemes  for  more 
fuel-efficient  passenger  vehicles.  Emissions  from  road 
transport  could  be  reduced  by  addressing  traffic 
congestion  through  improved  service  quality  in  public 
transport, intelligent transport systems and investing in 
soft mobility infrastructure. 

Figure  37:  Greenhouse  gas  emissions  by  sector  in 
Malta149  –  historical  emissions  1990-2019,  projections 
2021-2030150 

149 The sectors in the figure correspond to the following IPCC sectors: 
Energy  supply:  1A1,  1B  and  1C.  Energy  use 
in  manufacturing 
industries:  1A2.  Industrial  processes  and  product  use:  2.  Transport: 
1A3.  Other  energy  use:  1A4,  1A5  and  6.  Agriculture:  3.  Waste:  5. 
International aviation: 1.D.1.a. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Malta  35 

  Accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy. 
  Sieze  the  significant  opportunities  to  reduce  non-
CO2  greenhouse  gas  emissions  from  the  waste 
sector.  Reduce  non-CO2  emissions  in  agriculture 
while  enabling  the  agro-food  industry  to  transition 
to  sustainable  modes  of  production.  Size  the 
significant  mitigation  opportunities  of  non-CO2 
greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector. 

  Ensure the sustainability of biomass. 
  Further  mainstream  climate-change  adaptation  and 
disaster-risk-reduction measures, especially flooding 
prevention.  

The buildings sector is key to meeting Malta’s long-term 
decarbonisation  goals,  and  additional  measures  are 
needed in this sector. 

Emissions in agriculture have been stable. Their share of 
total greenhouse-gas emissions is small at 3%.  

In the land-use, land-use-change and forestry (LULUCF) 
sector, Malta’s net emissions are near zero. Projections 
in  the  national  energy  and  climate  plan  indicate  a 
similar  trend  to  2030.  Malta  is  the  only  EU  Member 
State with no reported and accounted  quantities under 
the  Kyoto  Protocol’s  second  commitment  period  for 
LULUCF.  

Use of revenues from the auctioning of EU 
ETS allowances 

from  the  auctioning  of  emission 
Total  revenues 
allowances  in  Malta  under  the  EU  ETS  in  2012-2021 
were  over  EUR  103  million.  Malta  reported  use  of  a 
revenues  for  the  scopes  listed  in  Directive  2003/87/EC 
of  an  average  of  135%,  spent  for  climate  and  energy 
purposes.  All  revenues  go  to  the  consolidated  fund 
(general  Budget),  and  expenditure  on  energy  and 
climate projects are financed through this fund.  

2022 priority actions 

  Promote the gradual electrification of the car fleet. 
 

Improve public transport and further encourage the 
use  of  public  trasnport  to  help  reduce  both 
congestion 
emissions. 
greenhouse 
Improving  the  sustainability  of  transport  will  also 
improve  the  quality  of  life  of  Maltese  residents  by 
reducing  congestion,  accidents,  and  environmental 
damages. 

and 

gas 

150  European  Environmental  Agency,  Total  GHG 
projections. 

trends  and 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                      
 
 
 
Part II: Enabling framework: Implementation tools 

5. Financing 

Malta  36 

Environmental investment needs in the 
European Union 

Financing  environmental  measures  is  essential  for  their 
success.  Although  most  financing  comes  from  national 
sources, various EU funds contribute significantly, helping 
to close the financing gaps .  

Post-2020,  environmental  measures  will  also  be 
supported by the EU’s  COVID-19 Recovery  Fund (via  the 
RRF) and the ‘do no significant harm’ principle which runs 
across the EU budget. The renewed commitments made 
at  COP26  (Glasgow,  October-November  2021)  and  the 
Biodiversity  Convention  (April-May  2022)151  will  also  be 
in  the  EU  budget.  Overall  environmental 
reflected 
investment gaps (EU-27). 

Overall environmental investment gaps (EU27) 

The EU’s investment needs for the green transition cover 
a  range  of  interlinked  areas.  The  additional  investment 
needs  over  the  baselines  (i.e.  the  gap  between  what  is 
needed  and  what  is  forecast  to  be  invested  if  no 
additional  action 
is  taken)  for  climate,  energy  and 
transport  were estimated  in 2021  at EUR 390  billion per 
year  (EU-27)152,  with  a  further  EUR  130  billion  a  year  to 
deliver  the  EU’s  core  environmental  objectives153.  The 
costs  of  climate-change  adaptation  can  also  be 
significant, and are estimated to reach a total of EUR 35-
62 billion (narrower scope) or EUR 158-518 billion (wider 
scope)  per  year154.  Those  investment  needs  reflect  the 
implementation  objectives  to  2020  and  to  2030  (except 
for  climate-change  adaptation,  the  costs  of  which  are 
expected to last over a longer time horizon).  

A  preliminary  update  of  the  EU’s  core  environmental-
investment gap is provided in Table 1155.  Almost 40% of 
the environmental-investment gap relate to dealing with 

151  The  Convention  on  Biological  Diversity  (cbd.int);  Post-2020  Global 
Biodiversity Framework | IUCN. 
152 SWD (2021) 621, accompanying proposal COM (2021) 557 to amend 
the REDII Directive (EU) 2018/2001. 
153 SWD (2020) 98 final/2.  
154  SWD(2018)292 
Regulation. 
155  With  decreases  due  to  Brexit  and  some  reconciliation  among  the 
objectives. 

Impact  assessment  accompanying 

the  LIFE 

pollution,  which  accounts  for  nearly  two-thirds  of  the 
total  gap  if  combined  with  water  management.  The 
is 
investment  gap 
estimated  between  EUR  13-28  billion  a  year  depending 
on 
implemented.  The  annual 
biodiversity financing gap is estimated at around EUR  20 
billion.  

in  circular  economy  and  waste 

levels  of  circularity 

1: 

Table 
environmental 
objective, 2021-2030 per year156 

Estimated  breakdown  of 

EU’s 
investment  gaps,  by  environmental 

the 

Estimated investment gap (EU-27, 
p.a.)  

Environmental 
objective 

Pollution  prevention 
& control 

Water  management 
& industries 

Circular  economy  & 
waste 

 EUR billion 

 42.8 

 26.6 

 13.0 

Biodiversity 
ecosystems157 

& 

 21.5 

 R & D & I and other 

Total 

 6.2 

 110.1 

 % 

 39% 

 24% 

 12% 

 20% 

 6% 

 100% 

Environmental investment needs in Malta 

Malta  is  the  smallest,  most  urbanised  and  most  densely 
populated  EU  Member  State.  These  features,  as  well  as 
the  scarcity  of  natural  resources  in  the  country,  pose 
specific challenges to Malta’s efforts to reach a high level 
in 
of  environmental  protection,  despite 

investment 

156 European Commission, DG Environment, ”Study supporting EU green 
investment needs analysis” (ongoing, 2021-2023) and DG Environment 
internal analysis ”Environmental Investment needs and financing in the 
EU’s green transition“,  July 2020.  
157  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  2030  Biodiversity  Strategy  (Natura 2000, 
green infrastructure), at least EUR 20 billion a year should be unlocked 
for  nature  (COM/2020/380  final)  while  to  fully  cover  the  strategy 
(including  restoration)  EUR  30-35  billion  may  be  needed,  indicating  a 
gap  of  EUR  10-20  billion  a  year  compared  to  current  baseline 
expenditure. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Malta  37 

environmental  infrastructure  and  regulation.  There  has 
been  a  clear  shift  of  investment  priorities  in  Malta 
towards  supporting  climate,  energy  and  transport 
policies,  as  can  be  seen 
in  the  RRP.  Nevertheless, 
significant  investment  efforts  are  still  needed  in  the 
following  fields  to  support  the  implementation  of  EU 
environmental legislation.  

Pollution prevention & control 

The  EU’s  first  Clean  Air  Outlook158  under  the  clean  air 
programme  estimated  that,  for  Malta,  to  reach  the 
emission-reduction  requirements  (ERRs)159  in  the  NECD 
by  2030  would  require  spending  EUR  39  million  on  air 
pollution control per year, including EUR 33 million a year 
for  capital  investment  (assuming  the  achievement  the 
2030 climate and energy targets). 

The  second  Clean-Air  Outlook160  suggests  that  the 
EU would  largely  achieve  the  reductions  of  air  pollutant 
emissions  that  correspond  to  the  obligations  under  the 
NEC  Directive  for  2030  if:  (i)  all  relevant  legislation 
adopted  up  to  2018  was  implemented  (including  all  air-
pollution  legislation  and  the  2030  climate  and  energy 
targets  set 
in  2018);  and  (ii)  Member  States  also 
implemented  the  measures  announced  in  their  national 
air-pollution  control  programmes  (NAPCPs)161.  The  only 
exception  is  for  ammonia  (NH3),  for  15  Member  States 
excluding Malta162.  

Water management  

According  to  an  OECD  study  on  financing  water-supply 
sanitation and flood protection (2020), Malta relies on a 
(e.g.  groundwater)  and  non-
mix  of  conventional 
conventional  (e.g.  desalination)  resources  for  its  water 
supply. The quality of groundwater in Malta is degrading 
(due  to  saline  intrusion,  and  pollution  by  nitrates),  and 
this  may  increase  costs  of  supply  in  the  future.  Current 
investments  in  water  reuse  aim  to  reduce  pressures  on 
groundwater  in  the  country.  EU  funding  has  provided  a 
significant  share  of  public  funding  over  the  past 
decade163.  It  is  also  estimated  that  Malta  will  need  to 

158 International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Progress 
towards  the  achievement  of  the  EU's  air  quality  and  emissions 
objectives, 2018. 
159 Directive (EU) 2016/2284. 
160  COM(2021)  3  Final.  International  Institute  for  Applied  Systems 
Analysis  (IIASA),  Support  to  the  development  of  the  Second  Clean  Air 
Outlook, 2020 and Report Annex.  
161  COM(2021)  3  final.  International  Institute  for  Applied  Systems 
Analysis  (IIASA),  Support  to  the  development  of  the  Second  Clean  Air 
Outlook, 2020 and Annex. 
162 Nevertheless,  the NECD also  foresees deliveries by 2020 and 2025. 
Second Clean Air Outlook, Background report, Annex. 
163  OECD,  Financing  Water  Supply,  Sanitation  and  Flood  Protection: 
Challenges and Options, 2020 6893cdac-en.pdf (oecd-ilibrary.org). 

invest  an  additional  cumulative  EUR 91 million  by  2030 
for  drinking  water  and  sanitation  (beyond  the  baseline 
investments) – corresponding to around EUR 9 million in 
additional  investment  (capital  expenditure)  per  year, 
with  over  90%  of  that  relating  to  wastewater164. 
Moreover, the recent 6th Water Framework Directive and 
Implementation  Report165  and  the 
Floods  Directive 
financial - economic study166 accompanying it, are also a 
relevant source of information in this domain. 

Waste & circular economy 

According  to  a  Commission  study167,  to  meet  the 
recycling  targets  for  municipal  waste  and  packaging 
waste,  Malta  still  needs  to 
invest  an  additional 
EUR 34 million  (around  4.9  million  per  year)  between 
2021 and 2027 (beyond the baseline investments). These 
waste  investments  will  need  to  cover:  waste  collection, 
bio-waste  treatment;  recycling  reprocessors;  waste-
sorting  facilities;  and  digitalisation  of  the  waste  registry. 
This does not  include investment  necessary in other key 
waste  streams  (plastics,  textiles,  furniture)  or  the 
investment  needed  to  unlock  a  higher  uptake  of 
circularity and waste prevention across the economy. 

Biodiversity & ecosystems 

The  recently  submitted  prioritised  action  framework 
(PAF)  for  Malta  shows  that  existing  nature-protection 
costs (including Natura 2000) in 2021-2027 are estimated 
at  EUR  181.3  million  –  or  around  EUR 25.9 million  per 
year168, while more efforts may be necessary to cover the 
increased  ambitions  of  the  EU’s  biodiversity  strategy  to 
2030  and  any  relevant  financing  gaps  on  protection  and 
restoration. 

EU environmental funding 2014-2020  

The  multiannual  financial  framework  (MFF)  for  2014-
2020  allocated  almost  EUR  960  billion  (in  commitments, 
2011 prices)169 for the EU to spend over this period. The 
commitment 
in  this  2014-2020  MMF  to  the  green 
transition included a 20% climate spending target. It also 

Financing-water-supply-sanitation-and-flood-protection-country-

164 
fact-sheet-malta.pdf (oecd.org). 
165 WFD and FD Implementation Reports – DG Environment – European 
Commission. 

166  European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Economic  data  related  to  the  implementation  of  the  WFD  and  the  FD 
and the financing of measures, Final report. Publications Office, 2021. 

167  European  Commission,  Study  on  investment  needs  in  the  waste 
sector and on the financing of municipal waste management in Member 
States, 2019. 
168  The  N2K  Group,  Strengthening  investments  in  Natura  2000  and 
improving  synergies  with  EU  funding  instruments,  report  to  the 
European Commission, 2021.  
169 Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
  
                                                                 
                                                                 
included  funding  opportunities  for  the  environment,  in 
particular, under the European Structural and Investment 
(ESI)  Funds170.  The  2014-2020  MFF  budget  was 
subsequently topped up with over EUR 50 billion (current 
prices)  from  the  REACT-EU  programme  (for  cohesion-
policy action against COVID-19)171.  

Malta  received  EUR  939.1  million  from  the  ESI  Funds  in 
2014-2020 to invest in job creation and a sustainable and 
healthy  European  economy  and  environment.  Of  this 
EUR 939.1  million,  the  planned  direct  environmental 
investment amounted to EUR 155 million, with a further 
indirect  environmental 
19.8  million 
investment  value,  totalling  to  EUR  174.9  million 
in 
environmental funding from the ESI Funds in 2014-2020.  

identified  as 

Figure  43  shows  an  overview  of  (planned)  individual  ESI 
Funds  earmarked  for  Malta  (EU  amounts,  without 
national amounts). 

Figure  38:  ESI  Funds  allocated  to  Malta,  including 
environmental investments, 2014-2020172 

Malta  38 

Table  2: Direct  and indirect  environmental investments 
under the ESI Funds in Malta, 2014-2020173 

Instrument 

Allocations  
for the environment  
(EUR million) 

Under Cohesion policy (ERDF + CF) 
Direct environmental investments 
water 
waste 
biodiversity and nature 
NBS for climate 
Indirect environmental investments 
renewable energy 
energy efficiency 
sustainable transport 

Under EAFRD/rural development 
Direct environmental investments 
water 
climate and risk management 
Indirect environmental investments 
renewable energy 
energy efficiency 

Under EMFF 
Direct environmental investments 
environment  protection  &  resource 
efficiency 
Indirect environmental investments 
Business development, R&I 

Under ESI Funds total  
Direct environmental investments 
Indirect environmental investments 

142.3 
123.4 
97.3 
22.9 
3.2 
0.1 
18.8 
5.5 
4.9 
8.4 

20.0 
19.1 
16.0 
3.1 
1.0 
0.6 
0.4 

12.6 
12.5 
12.5 

0.04 
0.04 

174.9 
155.0 
19.8 

Funding for the environment from the ESI Funds has also 
been  supplemented  by  other  EU  funding  programmes 
available  to  all  Member  States,  such  as,  the  LIFE 
programme,  Horizon  2020  or  loans  from  the  European 
Investment  Bank  (EIB) that add  up to an estimated total 
of  EUR  200  million  of  EU  environmental  financing  for 
Malta in 2014-2020.  

170  The  European  Structural  and  Investment  (ESI)  Funds  include  the 
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), 
the  European  Social  Fund  (ESF)  with  the  Youth  Employment  Initiative 
(YEI),  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (EAFRD) 
and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). 
171 Regulation (EU) 2020/2221. 
172 European Commission, DG Environment - Data analysis based on ESI 
Funds  Open  Data  Portal  (cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu),  Integration  of 
in  Cohesion  Policy  Funds  (COWI,  2017), 
environmental  concerns 
(EU)  2021/1060  and 
Regulation 
Implementing  Regulation 
Environmental 
investments  here  are  captured  via  the  combined  use  of  intervention 
fields  and  coefficients  under  the  Regulation  (EU)  No  1303/2013  and 
Regulation  (EU)  2021/1060    allowing  for  a  more  precise  identification 
and  valuation  of  relevant  environmental  investments.  N.B.  Indirect 
environmental investments are valued using the Annex I environmental 
coefficients of the Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 (as opposed to full value).    

(EU)  No  1303/2013,Regulation 

(EU)  No  215/2014. 

is  entirely  dedicated 

The  LIFE  programme174 
to 
finances 
environmental  and  climate  objectives. 
demonstration  and  best  practice  actions  for  green 
solutions  to  be  deployed.  In  the  programming  period 
2014-2020  (for  nature),  Malta  has  received  EU  support 

It 

investments 

identified  here 

173  European  Commission,  DG  Environment  -  Data analysis. The  values 
of  environmental 
the  specific 
in 
environmental  areas  may  differ 
from  the  tracking  values  at 
cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu, e.g. for clean air or biodiversity due to two 
factors:  the  set  of  environmental  coefficients  used  and  the  range  of 
funds assessed. DG Environment’s analysis here  covered the full range 
of ESI Funds. See also previous footnote. 
174 European Commission, LIFE Programme. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Malta  39 

for  two  LIFE  projects    with    a  total  of  EUR    4,802,497 
million ).175 

In  2014-2020,  Horizon  2020  allocated  about  EUR  2.75 
million for Malta, in particular, for climate action, circular 
economy and raw materials.176 Malta did not receive any 
funding for the environment from the European Fund for 
Strategic Investments in this period.177 EIB lending for the 
environment in Malta was also limited (EUR 9.07 million) 
compared  to  the  overall  EIB  lending  to  Malta  in  this 
period (EUR 261.90 million).178 The country ranks 27th for 
size of total EIB lending in 2014-2020.  

In  2020,  the  EIB  provided  EUR  24.2  billion  in  funding 
across  Europe  to  fight  climate  change,  37%  of  its  total 
financing  and EUR 1.8 billion (3% of its financing) for the 
environment179.  

EU environmental funding 2021-2027 

long-term  priorities, 

the  NextGenerationEU 

The 2020 European Green Deal investment  plan (EGDIP) 
calls  for  EUR  1  trillion  in  green  investments  (public  and 
private)  to  be  made  across  the  EU  by  2030.  The  2021-
2027  MFF  and 
spending 
programme  will  mobilise  EUR  2.018  trillion  (in  current 
prices)  to  support  the  recovery  from  COVID-19  and  the 
EU's 
including  environmental 
protection180. Following the EU Green Deal’s181 pledge to 
‘do no harm’ and the Interinstitutional Agreement on the 
2021-2027 MFF182, 30% of the EU budget in 2021-207 will 
support  climate  efforts,  while  biodiversity  will  receive 
7.5% of the EU budget (as of 2024) and 10% (as of 2026) 
biodiversity,  specifically  under  the  2021-2027  Cohesion 
policy and the 2023-2027 CAP to reach those targets.  

Sustainable  finance  significantly  increases  transparency 
on environmental sustainability (a goal promoted by the 
EU  Taxonomy)183. 
It  also  strengthens  non-financial 
reporting  requirements  and  facilitates  the  issuance  of 

175 LIFE Country overview Malta 2021 (europa.eu) 
176 Horizon 2020 Environment and resources data hub (easme-web.eu) 
177  European  Investment  Bank,  Approved  and  signed  EFSI  financing, 
2015-2020. 
https://www.eib.org/en/products/mandates-
partnerships/efsi/index.htm.  
178 European Investment Bank, EIB loans in EU countries in 2014-2020. 
Source: EIB Open Data Portal: EIB Open Data 
179  EIB  2020  Activity  Report.  The  EIB  Group  jointly  works  with  the 
European  Commission  in  implementing  several  programs  that  finance 
environmental implementation: InvestEU, the successor of EFSI, Pillar II 
and III of the Just Transition Mechanism. The EIB Group stands as a key 
implementing  partner  for  InvestEU  with  responsibility  for  managing 
75% of the overall budgetary capacity of the mandate. 
180  European  Commission,  2021-2027 
NextGenerationEU. 
181 COM/2019/640 final. 
182 Interinstitutional Agreement, OJ L 433I. 
183 

https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-

long-term  EU  budget  & 

finance/sustainable-finance/eu-taxonomy-sustainable-activities_en  

to 

investment 

(by  developing 

(2020)185,  sustainable 

the  EU  green-bond 
green  bonds 
standard184).  Reinforced  by  the  renewed  sustainable 
finance  will 
finance  strategy 
increase 
climate  and 
flows 
environment. The new strategy on adaptation to climate 
change186 can help to close the insurance protection gap, 
which  currently  leaves  many  risks  from  climate-related 
events uninsured187. The EIB will align 50% of its lending 
to  climate  and  environment  projects  by  2025188  with  a 
EUR  250  billion  contribution  to  the  Green  Deal 
investment plan by 2027. 

the 

Table  3:  Key  EU  funds  allocated  to  Malta  (current 
prices), 2021-2027 

Instrument 

Cohesion policy 
ERDF 
CF 
ESF+ 
ETC (ERDF) 

Just Transition Fund 

EAFRD/rural development  
under  CAP  Strategic  Plans 
2023-2027193 

European  Maritime,  Fisheries 
and 
Fund 
Aquaculture 
(EMFAF) 

Allocations (EUR million) 

787.2189 
474.5 
    165.2190 
 124.4  
23191 

23.3192 

99.9194 

21.8195 

and 

Recovery 
Facility (RRF)  
2021 – 2026196  

Resilience 

316.4 197 (grants) 

184 EU Green Bond Standard - 2021/0191 (COD). 
185 COM (2021) 390 Final - European Commission, Strategy for Financing 
the Transition to a Sustainable Economy.  
186 COM(2021) 82 final. 
187  The  strategy  would  support  improved  coverage  of  the  insurance 
gap,  including  through  the  natural-catastrophe  markets  as  reflected 
with  the  European  Insurance  and  Occupational  Pensions  Authority 
dashboard  on  the  insurance  protection  gap  for  natural  catastrophes. 
See:  The  pilot  dashboard  on  insurance  protection  gap  for  natural 
catastrophes | Eiopa (europa.eu). 
188 EIB Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025, November 2020. 
189  European  Commission,  2021-2027  Cohesion  policy  EU  budget 
allocations. 
190  The  transfer  to  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility  (Transport)  is  not 
included. 
191  Interreg  initial  allocations  per  MS  including  ETC  transnational  and 
ETC cross-border co-operation.  
192  European  Commission,  2021-2027  Cohesion  policy  EU  budget 
allocations. 
193 European Commission, CAP strategic plans.  
194 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, Annex XI.   
195 Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, Annex V. 
196  The  actual  reforms  and  investments  under  the  RRF  have  to  be 
implemented until 31 December 2026.  
197 Council Implementing Decision, FIN 701.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
In Malta, the programming for most EU funds (cohesion-
policy 
funds,  EAFRD  and  the  European  Maritime, 
Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  Fund)  is  ongoing.  However, 
programming  has  already  been  concluded  for  the  RRF. 
53.8% of Malta’s RRP will support climate objectives (see 
Figure 44). This exceeds the RRF’s overall target for 37% 
of  RRP  funding  to  go  to  climate  spending,  and  makes 
Malta one of the EU Member States making the greatest 
climate  commitment  in its  RRP. On the green transition, 
the  RRP  reflects  Malta’s  climate  pledge  by  supporting 
the large-scale electrification of road transport, including: 
(i) investments to promote the purchase of zero-emission 
electric  vehicles  (EUR  60  million)  and  electric  buses 
(EUR 34 million), and (ii) proposing a reform to offer free 
public transport to over 100 000 inhabitants. The Maltese 
RRP  will  also  support:  (i)  a  large-scale retrofitting  and 
energy-efficiency  programme for  public  and  private 
buildings,  such  as  hospitals  or  schools  (EUR  60  million); 
and  (ii)  waste-management  measures  (e.g.  measures  to 
deal with construction and demolition waste)198.  

Figure 39: Climate expenditure in RRP, 2021-2026199  

Malta  40 

(EUR 5.4 billion), Horizon Europe (EUR 95.5 billion)200, the 
Connecting Europe Facility201 (EUR 33.7 billion)202, or the 
funds  to  be  mobilised  via  the  InvestEU  programme203. 
These  other  sources  of  funding  will  also  support  the 
research  and 
green 
innovation  activities 
for  environmental  protection 
(Horizon  Europe)204,  clean  transport  and  energy  (the 
Connecting 
sustainable 
infrastructure (InvestEU)206. 

Facility)205, 

transition, 

including 

through 

Europe 

or 

National expenditure on environmental 
protection 

Total expenditure on environmental protection (including 
all relevant current and capital expenditure)207 in the EU-
27 was EUR 272.6 billion in 2020, representing 2% of EU-
27 GDP. This percentage has remained quite stable over 
time.  Although 
largest  absolute  amounts  of 
expenditure  are  concentrated  in  a  few  countries,  most 
countries  spend  1-2%  of  their  GDP  on  environmental 
protection,  including  Malta  (which  spends  1.3%  of  its 
GDP on environmental protection).  

the 

Of  this  spending,  the  EU-27’s  capital  expenditure  on 
environmental  protection  (i.e.  investment)  amounted  to 
EUR  56.3  billion  in  2018,  falling  to  EUR  54.5  billion  in 
2020,  representing  around  0.4%  of  EU-27  GDP.  Most 
Member  States 
in 
environmental protection, while Malta dedicated 0.2% of 
its  GDP  to  capital  expenditure  on  environmental 
protection in 2020. In 2014-2020, capital expenditure on 
environmental protection totalled around EUR 376 billion 
of  environmental 
the  EU-27,  and 
EUR 210 million for Malta. 

invested  0.2-0.5%  of  their  GDP 

investment 

in 

Under  NextGenerationEU,  the  Commission  will  issue  up 
to  EUR  250  billion  of  EU  green  bonds  (one  third  of  all 
bonds  issued  under  NextGenerationEU)  until  2026  that 
will  comply  with  the  general  spirit  of  the  ‘do  no 
significant harm’ principle. However, this EUR 250 billion 
in  green  bonds  will  not  be  subject  to  the  currently 
developed  delegated  acts  related  to  the  EU  Taxonomy 
and  will  not  fully  align  with  the  proposed  EU  standards 
for green bonds. 

In  addition  to  EU  funds  earmarked  specifically  for  Malta 
in  2021-2027,  there  are  also  funding  programmes  that 
can been accessed at the EU level and which are open to 
all  Member  States.  These  include  the  LIFE  programme 

198 European Commission, Malta’s recovery and resilience plan. 
199 European Commission. The contributions to climate objectives have 
been calculated using Annex VI of the RRF Regulation (EU) 2021/241. 

200 European Commission, Multiannual  financial  framework 2021-2027 
(in commitments) - Current prices. 
201 The CEF (Transport) also includes EUR 11.3 billion transferred from 
the  Cohesion  Fund.  30%  of  the  transferred  amount  will  be  made 
available,  on a competitive  basis,  to  all  Member  States eligible  for  the 
Cohesion Fund. The remaining 70% will respect the national envelopes 
until 31 December 2023. Any amount under national envelopes that is 
unspent  by  that  date  will  support  all  the  Cohesion  Fund’s  Member 
States. 
202 Regulation (EU) 2021/1153. 
203  The  InvestEU  Fund  is  set  to  mobilise  over  EUR  372  billion  of 
investment through an EU budget guarantee of EUR 26.2 billion to back 
the  investment  of  financial  partners  such  as  the  European  Investment 
Bank (EIB) Group and others. 
204 European Commission, Horizon Europe. 
205 European Commission, Connecting Europe Facility. 
206 European Union, InvestEU. 
207Environmental  Protection  Expenditure  Accounts  (EPEA),  Eurostat. 
EPEA  accounts  are  based  on  the  CEPA  2000  classification,  excluding 
climate, energy and circular economy. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Figure 40: Environmental protection investments in the 
EU-27 (EUR million and % of GDP), 2018208 

Figure  41:  EU-27  Member  States'  environmental 
protection  investments  (Capex)  by  institutional  sectors 
(Total economy = 100%), 2018209 

Malta  41 

institutional 

sector,  around  69%  of  Malta’s 
By 
environmental-protection 
(capital 
investments 
expenditure) came from the general government, with a 
from  specialist  private-sector 
further  11%  coming 
producers  (of  environmental-protection  services,  e.g. 
waste  and  water  companies)  and  19%  coming  from  the 
general 
pursues 
environmental  activities  as  ancillary  to  their  main 
activities.  At  EU  level,  37%  of  environmental-protection 
investment  comes 
from 
specialist  private-sector  producers,  and  30%  from  the 
general business sector. 

from  governments,  33% 

business 

usually 

sector 

that 

in  2018.  For 

Breakdown  of  investment  by  environmental  topic  is 
partially  available,  at  the  level  of  institutional  sectors 
(rather than at economy level), due to different reporting 
patterns  across  the  sectors210.  At  Malta’s  general 
government 
level,  71%  of  environmental-protection 
investments  went  to  waste  management  and  17%  to 
biodiversity 
the  country’s  specialist 
producers  of  environmental-protection  services,  waste 
management  was  also  dominant  (receiving  61%  of  their 
followed  by 
environmental-protection 
wastewater (which received 39% of their environmental-
protection 
Industry  and  business  also 
focused  (almost  exclusively)  on  waste  management, 
which  received  98%  of  their  environmental-protection 
investments.  

investment). 

investment), 

In 2020, the total issuance of green bonds211 by European 
countries  (including  some  non-EU  countries)  was  USD 
156  billion  (EUR  137  billion),  up  from  USD  117  billion 

209 Eurostat, Environmental Protection Expenditure Accounts (env_epe). 
210  Data  reporting  differs for  the  three  institutional  sectors,  leading  to 
aggregation  difficulties.  Specialist  companies  provide  comprehensive 
data across all environmental areas (CEPA 1-9), although this is less the 
case for general government and industry, which often report (the non-
obligatory)  data  in  merged  categories  only  (because  it  is  difficult  to 
disaggregate these data) or not at all.  
211  Green  bonds  were  created  to  fund  projects  that  have  positive 
environmental  and/or  climate  benefits.  Most  green  bonds  issued  are 
green ‘use of proceeds’ or asset-linked bonds. The very first green bond 
was  issued  in  2007  with  a  AAA-rated  issuance  from  multilateral 
institutions, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank. 

208 Eurostat, Environmental Protection Expenditure Account, 2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Malta  42 

Figure 43: Environmental taxes in the EU-27, 2020216 

issuance 

(EUR  105  billion)  in  2019212.  Looking  only  at  EU-27 
Member  States,  green-bond 
in  2020  was 
EUR 124 billion. Malta did not issue green bonds in 2020. 
In  2014-2020,  83%  of  the  green  bonds 
issued  by 
European countries served objectives in energy, buildings 
or transport, while 8% supported objectives in water and 
waste, with a further 6% supporting sustainable land use 
– with links to ecosystem conservation and restoration213.  

Figure 42: Annual EU green bond issuance in 2020 (EUR 
billion)214 

The  2019  European  Green  Deal  underlines  that  well-
designed  tax  reforms  can  boost  economic  growth  and 
resilience,  foster  a  fairer  society,  and  promote  a  just 
transition. Tax reforms can contribute to this by sending 
the right price signals and incentives to economic players. 
The  Green  Deal  creates  the  context  for  broad-based  tax 
reforms, the removal of fossil-fuel subsidies, and a shift in 
the  tax  burden  from  labour  to  pollution.  It  achieves  this 
while 
social 
taking 
considerations217. The Green Deal promotes the ‘polluter 
pays  principle’  (PPP)218,  which  stipulates  that  polluters 
should bear the cost of measures to prevent, control and 
remedy pollution. The polluter-pay principle is facilitated 
by 
the  European  Commission’s  Technical  Support 
Instrument (TSI) project on greening taxes. Malta applies 
economic 
instruments  such  as  water  consumption 
charges and pay-as-you-throw schemes219. 

simultaneously 

account  of 

Environmentally-harmful subsidies 

Addressing  and 
removing  environmentally-harmful 
subsidies is a further step towards wider fiscal reforms.220 
Fossil-fuel  subsidies  are  costly  for  public  budgets  and 
make it difficult to achieve the Green Deal objectives. In 
many  cases,  these  subsidies  also  counteract  incentives 
for  green  investments.  Annual  fossil-fuel  subsidies  have 
been  around  EUR  55  billion  in  the  EU  since  2015.  They 

216 Eurostat, Environmental taxes accounts (env_eta). 
217 COM (2019/640 final), p.17.  
218 Enshrined in  Article  191(2)  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the 
European  Union:  ‘Union policy  on  the  environment  (…)  shall  be  based 
on  the  precautionary  principle  and  on  the  principles  that  preventive 
action should be taken, that environmental damage should as a priority 
be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay’.  
219  European  Commission,  Green  taxation  and  other  economic 
instruments, 2021.  
220European  Commission,  Study  on  assessing  th  environmental  fiscal 
reform potential for the EU 28, 2016.  

Green budget tools 

Green taxation and tax reform 

Malta’s  revenue  from  environmentally  relevant  taxes  is 
around  the  EU  average,  as  shown 
in  Figure  47. 
Environmental  taxes  stood  at  2.27%  of  Maltese  GDP  in 
2020  (EU  average:    2.24%).  The  largest  portion  of  the 
environmental taxes were energy taxes which accounted 
for  1.1%  of  2020  GDP,  below  the  EU  average  of  1.74%. 
Transport taxes, at 0.94% of GDP, were well above the EU 
average  (0.42%),  as  were  taxes  on  pollution  and 
resources  at  0.24%  (higher  than  the  EU  average  of 
0.08%). In  2020, the environmental taxes in Malta came 
to 7.66% of total revenues from taxes and social security 
contributions (above the EU average of 5.57%)215   

Bonds 

Climate 

212 
Taxonomy 
https://www.climatebonds.net/standard/taxonomy.  USD 
converted via Eurostat’s annual average EUR/USD exchange rates. 
213 Interactive Data Platform at www.climatebonds.net. Climate Bonds 
Taxonomy is similar to the EU Taxonomy. 
214 Climate Bonds Initiative, 2022. 
215  Eurostat, Environmental Taxes (env_eta). 

value 

- 
is 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
rose  by  4%  between  2015  and  2019,  although  some 
countries  (such  as  Latvia,  Lithuania  Sweden,  Greece  or 
Ireland) managed to decrease them in this period. In the 
EU,  subsidies  for  petroleum  products  in  sectors  such  as 
transport  and agriculture continued to increase in 2015-
2019. However, subsidies  for coal and lignite decreased, 
largely  due  to  the  diminishing  role  of  solid  fuels  in 
electricity generation.  

As a share of GDP, fossil-fuel subsidies ranged from 1.2% 
in Hungary to less than 0.1% in Malta in 2019 (with an EU 
average  of  0.4%).  In  2020,  the  EU-27’s  total  fossil-fuel 
subsidies  decreased  to  EUR  52  billion  (due  to  falling 
consumption 
the  COVID-19-related 
amid 
restrictions).  Without  Member  State  actions,  these 
subsidies are likely to rebound as economic activity picks 
up from 2020221.  

trends 

Green budgeting practices  

Green  budgeting  encompasses  various  climate  and 
environmental tagging and tracking practices in budgets. 
Some  EU  Member  States  already  use  certain  green-
budgeting practices222. Green budgeting helps to identify 
and  track  green  expenditure  and  green  revenues  to 
increase transparency on the environmental implications 
of  budgetary  policies.  This  is  aimed  at  improving  policy 
coherence  and  supporting  green  policies  (including 
climate and environmental objectives)223. 

The Commission has also drawn up climate-proofing and 
sustainability-proofing  guidance,  as  tools  to  assess 
project  eligibility  and  a  project’s  compliance  with 
environmental legislation and criteria224. The Commission 
developed  a  green-budgeting  reference  framework225 
and launched a TSI project on green budgeting in 2021 to 
help  Member  States  develop  national  green-budgeting 
frameworks to improve policy coherence and support the 
green  transition.  Malta  participates  in  the  Commission’s 
green budgeting TSI, which started in 2021.  

Overall financing compared to the needs 

The EU’s overall financing for environmental investments 
is estimated to have been 0.6-0.7% of GDP in 2014-2020 

221 State of the Energy Union report, COM(2021) 950 and Annex 
222 European Commission, Green Budgeting Practices in the EU: A First 
Review, 2021.  
223  European  Commission,  European  Commission  Green  Budgeting 
Reference  Framework.  European  Commission,  Green  Budgeting  in  the 
EU Key insights from the 2021 Commission survey.  
224 European Commission, Technical guidance on sustainability proofing 
for the InvestEU Fund. 
225  European  Commission,  Green  Budgeting  Reference  Framework, 
based  on  the  review  of  the  OECD  Paris  Collaborative  on  Green 
Budgeting initiative, 2017. 

Malta  43 

comprising  both  major  EU  funds  and  national  financing. 
This  ranged  from  0.3%  (Ireland)  to  1.91%  (Bulgaria), 
depending  on  the  level  of  environmental  challenges  in 
different  Member  States.  In  2021-2027,  it  is  estimated 
that the EU’s environmental investment needs will reach 
over  0.9-1.5%  of  projected  common  GDP  (2021-2027), 
suggesting  a  potential  environmental  financing  gap  of 
0.6-0.8%  of  GDP  at  EU  level,  compared  to  previous 
financing levels. 226 

 Figure  44:  Total  environmental  financing  baseline 
(2014-2020)  and  estimated  needs  (2020-2030)  in  the 
EU27 (% of GDP)227 

investments 

Malta’s  financing  for  environmental 
is 
estimated  to  have  been  0.56%  of  GDP  in  2014-2020, 
almost  equally  split  between  EU  funds  and  national 
financing. The country’s environmental investment needs 
in  2021-2027  are  estimated  to  be  0.89%  of  GDP, 
suggesting  a  potential  environmental  financing  gap  of 
around  0.33%  of  GDP  (likely  to  be  higher  when  also 
accounting for needs estimated currently at EU-level only 
(e.g.  water  protection,  circular  economy,  biodiversity 
strategy  etc.)  –  to  be  addressed  through  additional 
environmental financing actions.  

In  the  2019  EIR,  Malta  had  no  priority  actions  for 
environmental  financing.  However,  there  is  room  for 
improvement in  the coming years. 

226  DG  Environment  data  analysis.  EU  financing  sources  covered:  ESI 
Funds  (ERDF,  CF,  ESF,  YEI,  EAFRD,  EMFF),  Horizon 2020,  LIFE,  EFSI  (EU 
amount),  EIB  loans.  National  financing:  total  national  environmental 
protection capital  expenditure  (investments).  Sources: ESI  Funds  Open 
Data (cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu, European Commission, Eurostat.   
227 Eurostat, ESI Funds Open Data, 2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
2022 priority actions 

  Devise  an  environmental  financing  strategy  to 
maximise 
closing 
opportunities 
environmental  implementation  gaps,  bringing 
together all relevant administrative levels. 
Ensure  an  increased  level  of  financing  for  the 
environment,  in  particular  from  private  sources 

for 

 

Malta  44 

the 

(that is currently around a third of the total), to 
the 
cover 
environmental  objectives  by 
the 
investment gaps.     

investment  needs  across 
closing 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
6. Environmental governance  

Malta  45 

Information, public participation and access to 
justice 

Citizens  can  more  effectively  protect  the  environment  if 
they  can  rely  on  the  three  ‘pillars’  of  the  Aarhus 
Convention:  
(i) access to information;  
(ii) public participation in decision making; 
(iii) access to justice in environmental matters.  
It is of crucial importance to public authorities, the public 
and businesses that environmental information is shared 
efficiently  and  effectively228.  Public  participation  allows 
authorities  to  make  decisions  that  take  public  concerns 
into account. Access to justice is a set of guarantees that 
allows  citizens  and  NGOs  to  use  national  courts  to 
protect the environment229. It includes the right to bring 
legal challenges (‘legal standing’)230.  

Environmental information  

a 

European 

This  section  focuses  on  Malta’s  implementation  of  the 
INSPIRE  Directive.  The  INSPIRE  Directive  aims  at  setting 
spatial-data 
up 
for 
sharing environmental 
information  between 
spatial 
public authorities across Europe. It is hoped that this will 
help policy-making across boundaries and facilitate public 
access  to  this  information.  Geographic  information  is 
needed  for  good  governance  at  all  levels  and  should  be 
readily and transparently available. 

infrastructure 

in 

implementing  the 

Malta’s  performance 
INSPIRE 
Directive is satisfactory, and has been reviewed based on 
the  country’s  2021  country  fiche231.  Data  identification 
and  documentation  have  made  good  progress  in  the 
country, and implementation levels are acceptable. 

Table  4:  Country  dashboard  on  the  implementation  of 
the INSPIRE Directive, 2016-2020232 

2016 

2020 

Legend 

Effective coordination  

and data sharing 

Ensure 
coordination  

effective 

Data 
without obstacles  

sharing 

■ 

■ 

INSPIRE performance indicators 

i.  Conformity  of 
metadata  

ii.  Conformity  of 
spatial data sets233 

iii.  Accessibility  of 
spatial  data  sets 
through  view  and 
download services 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

iv.  Conformity  of 
network services 

■ 

■ 

■ 
Implementation 
of  this  provision  is 
well  advanced  or 
(nearly)  completed. 
Outstanding 
issues 
are  minor  and  can 
be addressed easily. 
Percentage: >89% 

■ 
Implementation 
of this provision has 
started  and  made 
some  or  substantial 
progress  but  is  still 
not  close 
to  be 
complete. 
Percentage: 
89% 

31–

■ 
Implementation 
of  this  provision  is 
falling  significantly 
behind. 
Serious 
are 
efforts 
necessary  to  close 
implementation 
gap. 
<31% 

Percentage: 

Public participation 

information 

environmental 

General 
impact 
on 
assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment 
(SEA)  processes  is  provided  on  the  website  of  Malta’s 
Environment  and  Resources  Authority  (ERA)234.  General 
regarding 
information 
Impact 
(EIA)  and  the  Strategic  Environmental 
Assessment 
Assessment 
the 
(SEA)  process 
Environment  and  Resources  Authority  (ERA)  website235 

the  Environmental 

is  provided  on 

228  The  Aarhus  Convention,  the  Access  to  Environmental  Information 
Directive  (Directive  2003/4/EC)  and  the  INSPIRE  Directive(Directive 
2007/2/EC)  together  create  a  legal  foundation  for  the  sharing  of 
environmental  information  between  public  authorities  and  with  the 
public. This EIR focuses on the INSPIRE Directive's implementation.  
229 These guarantees are explained in the Commission Notice on access 
to  justice  in  environmental  matters,  OJL  275,  18.8.2017  and  a  related 
Citizen's Guide. 
230  This  EIR  focuses  on  the  means  implemented  by  Member  States  to 
guarantee  rights  of  access  to  justice,  legal  standing  and  to  overcome 
other major barriers to bringing cases on nature and air pollution. 
231 https://inspire.ec.europa.eu/INSPIRE-in-your-Country/MT 
232 INSPIRE knowledge base, 2021. 

233 The deadlines for implementation of the spatial data interoperability 
were  in  2016  still  in  the  future:  23/11/2017  for  Annex  I  data  and 
21/10/2020 for Annex II and III data. It must be also considered that this 
conformity indicator will in many cases never reach 100% conformity as 
majority  of  the  countries  provide  as-is-data  sets  in  addition  to  the 
INSPIRE harmonised data sets. 
234 For SEA, see https://era.org.mt/topic/sea-overview/ and for EIA, see 
https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/eia-process/ 
and 
https://era.org.mt/topic/eia-screening/ 
235 For SEA, see https://era.org.mt/topic/sea-overview/ and for EIA, see 
and 
https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/eia-process/ 
https://era.org.mt/topic/eia-screening/ 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
                                                                 
  
  
  
  
                                                                 
contains: 

information  duties 
feedback, 

(i) 
consultations,  public 

and the SEA Focal Point  website236. Legislation  on public 
consultation  in  the  EIA  process  ensures  a  basic  level  of 
public engagement237. To implement the relevant rules in 
implementing 
the  EIA  and  SEA  Directives,  Malta’s 
for 
legislation 
applications, 
and 
decisions;  and  (ii)  a  duty  to  publish  the  relevant 
information  to  facilitate  public  participation238.  The 
website of Malta’s planning authority publishes a weekly 
list  of  applications  received,  decisions  and  enforcement 
notices, government  notices  and legal notices related to 
the  planning  authority239.  .  The  ERA  website  includes  a 
section  on  active  and  archived  consultations  relating  to 
EIAs240.  Each 
information  about  the 
project,  applicable  dates  within  which  to  submit 
comments and links to the relevant documentation. The 
to 
potential 
environmental  developments  is  enhanced  through  the 
new  Malta  Environment  Platform  and 
Services 
website241. This website, developed by the ERA, provides 
a  geospatial  portal  containing  easily  accessible  spatial 
and  zoning 
information  relevant  to  EIA  and  SEA 
procedures242.  Authorities  responsible  for  carrying  out 
SEAs process data on public participation in EIA and SEA 
processes. 

for  public  engagement 

includes 

relation 

listing 

in 

Access to justice  

legal  persons, 

Access  to  justice  in  environmental  matters  is  provided 
mainly  through  the  Environment  and  Planning  Review 
Tribunal (EPRT), regulated through the Environment  and 
Planning Review Tribunal Act (Cap 551). Through this Act, 
physical  and 
including  NGOs,  may 
challenge  decisions  made  by  the  Environment  and 
Resources  Authority  and  the  Planning  Authority.  The 
decisions  taken  by  the  latter  can  be  appealed  in  the 
instances  referred  to  in  article  11  of  Cap  551,  which 
allows  appeals  from  applicants,  interested  third  parties, 
external consultees and, in certain cases, by any person. 
In certain instances, in order to appeal against a decision 
interested  third  parties 
of  the  Planning  Authority, 

236 https://environment.gov.mt/en/sea/Pages/sea.aspx 
https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/549.61/eng/pdf  

237 https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/eia-process/ 
238 https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/eia-process/ 
239 

https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Government%20Gazette/pa
/Pages/Planning-Authority.aspx 
240  For  active  public  consultations,  see  ERA  website,  available  at:  
https://era.org.mt/era-project-categories/eia-active-public-
consultations/.  For  archived  public  consultations,  see  ERA  website 
available  at:  https://era.org.mt/era-project-categories/eia-archived-
public-consultations/. 
241 https://meps.eraportal.org.mt/ 
242 https://msdi.data.gov.mt/geoportal.html 

Malta  46 

(including NGOs) are required to have submitted written 
comments  regarding  the  application  for  development 
permission  during  the  term  established  by  law  for  the 
public consultation process.  

With  regard  to  decisions  taken  by  the  Environment  and 
Resources  Authority,  article  47  of  Cap  551  provides  for 
the right of appeal for any aggrieved party as well as for 
any  person  in  relation  to  environment  assessments, 
access to environmental information and the prevention 
and  remedying  of  environmental  damage.  Certain 
subsidiary  legislation  may  also  provide  for  access  to 
justice provisions with regard to specific matters, such as 
the 
the  Freedom  of  Access 
Environment Regulations (S.L 549.39).  

Information  on 

to 

Judicial review is also possible through the use of  article 
469A  of  the  Code  of  Organisation  and  Civil  Procedure 
(Cap 12). The latter allows for the courts of justice of civil 
jurisdiction 
the  validity  of  any 
into 
administrative  act  or  declare  such  act  null,  invalid  or 
without effect in specific cases. 

to  enquire 

In  Malta,  there  are  some  difficulties  in  challenging  SEA 
decisions 
the 
environmental  report  or  both)  and  also  plans  and 
programmes in other environmental fields. 

the  plan  or  program  or 

(either 

In  addition,  there  is  no  provision  for  administrative 
redress  if  any  person  wants  to  challenge  an  act  or 
omission  in  the  SEA  process,  but  filing  before  the  First 
Hall  of  the  Civil  Court243  a  legal  challenge  requesting 
judicial review.  

However,  if  authorisations  (e.g.  development  consents) 
take  the  form  of  legislation  there  is  no  possibility  of 
administrative review or judicial review. 

Such authorisations could possibly be challenged by filing 
an  action  alleging  breach  of  fundamental  human  rights, 
or in terms of Article 46 of the Constitution. In this case, 
both individuals and NGOs filing the action would have to 
prove that the alleged breach was being done in relation 
to them. It can be concluded that a system of regular and 
substantive  supervision  is  not  in  place;    supervision  of 
acts  are  not  accessible  for  the  public  at  all.  The 
Environment  and  Resources  Authority  (ERA)  is  the  main 
entity  which 
regarding 
environmental access to justice. 

information 

publishes 

Information and guidance for people wishing to exercise 
their  right  to  access  to  justice  is  available  online  on  the 

243 Article 469A of Chapter 12 of the Laws of Malta, 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
ERA’s website244. In the 2019 EIR, Malta received priority 
actions to: (i) improve access to spatial data and services 
by  making  stronger 
linkages  between  the  country 
INSPIRE  portals;  (ii)  identify  and  document  all  spatial 
datasets  required  to  implement  environmental  law;  and 
(iii) make the data and documentation at least accessible 
'as  is'  to  other  public  authorities  and  the  public  through 
the  digital  services  envisaged  in  the  INSPIRE  Directive. 
The Commission notes limited progress in terms of access 
to  justice  on  standing  and  availability  of  information  to 
the  public  since  2019.  Malta  therefore  needs  to  better 
inform the public about their access-to-justice rights and 
ensure  that  there  is  legal  standing  for  environmental 
NGOs  to  bring  legal  challenges  on  violations  of  air-
pollution and nature legislation.  

The  Commission  notes  some  progress  on  environmental 
information (INSPIRE). However, Malta needs to step up 
action on public participation and access to justice. 

2022 priority actions 

 

relevant 
facilitate  access 
Provide  and 
information on open consultation procedures on 
the ERA website. 

to 

  Monitor  public  participation  in  EIA  and  SEA 
impact  of  new 
increasing  public 

the 
processes.  Measure 
electronic  tools  aimed  at 
engagement in environmental planning. 
Ensure  that 
legal  standing  to  challenge  a 
decision of a public authority is not restricted to 
members  of 
the  public  concerned  who 
participated 
in  the  preceding  administrative 
procedure in environmental cases. 
the  public 
to  courts  by 
Improve  access 
concerned  on  administrative  or  regulatory 
planning decisions namely on water, nature and 
air quality.  

 

 

  Better inform the public by making reference to 
the relevant  Commission eJustice fact sheets245 
about their access to justice rights.   

Compliance assurance  

Environmental compliance assurance covers all the work 
undertaken  by  public  authorities 
that 
industries,  farmers  and  others  fulfil  their  obligations  to 
protect water, air and nature, and manage waste246.  

to  ensure 

244 https://era.org.mt/topic/access-to-justice/ 
245 
https://e-
justice.europa.eu/content_access_to_justice_in_environmental_matter
s-300-en.do 
246  The  concept  is  explained  in  detail  in  the  Communication  on  EU 
actions  to 
improve  environmental  compliance  and  governance 
COM(2018)10  and  the  related  Commission  staff  working  document, 
SWD(2018)10.  

Malta  47 

It includes support measures provided by the authorities 
such as: 
(i) compliance promotion 247;  

(ii) inspections and other checks that they carry out, i.e. 
compliance monitoring 248;  

(iii)the  steps  that  they  take  to  stop  breaches,  impose 
sanctions  and  require  damage  to  be  remedied,  i.e. 
enforcement249.  

Citizen  science  and  complaints  enable  authorities  to 
liability250 
focus  their  efforts  better.  Environmental 
ensures tat the polluter pays to remedy any damage.   

Compliance promotion and monitoring 

The website of Malta’s ERA provides general information 
on the implementation of the Nature Directives in Malta 
as  well  as  references  to  the  relevant 
legislation. 
Furthermore,  spatial  environmental  data  and  other 
environmental  information,  including  on  Natura  2000,  is 
available  through  the  new  Maltese  Environmental 
Platform and Services website and the Malta Spatial Data 
Infrastructure  service251.  For  the  Nitrates  Directive,  a 
government website252 provides practical information on 
the Nitrates Directive, its nitrates action programme, and 
the  Nitrates  LIFE+  project.  Malta’s  environment  and 
agriculture ministries also provide general information on 
the InfoNitrates LIFE+ project. In addition to the general 
information  on  the 
implementation  of  the  Nitrates 
Directive253, the ERA website also provides a reference to 
a  code  of  agricultural  practice  which  was  developed  to 
help farmers comply with requirements following Malta’s 
designation as a nitrate-vulnerable zone254. 

It appears that no separate inspection plans or reports of 
individual  inspections  are  published  by  the  Maltese 
authorities.  However,  the  ERA  publishes  annual  reports 
which  cover  compliance  and  enforcement  regarding 
impact255. 
installations  with  potential  environmental 
Inspection  reports  are  however  provided  to  the  public 

247 This EIR focuses on the help given to farmers to comply with nature 
and nitrates legislation.  
248 This EIR focuses on inspections of major industrial installations.  
249  This  EIR  focuses  on  the  availability  of  enforcement  data  and  co-
ordination between authorities to tackle environmental crime. 
250  The  Environmental  Liability  Directive,  2004/35,  creates  the 
framework. 
251 https://msdi.data.gov.mt/geoportal.html 
252 https://agrikoltura.gov.mt/ 
253 https://era.org.mt/topic/nitrates-directive/ 
254 

https://agrikoltura.gov.mt/en/agricultural_directorate/Documents/nitr
atesActionProgrammeRegulations/ntr001.pdf 
255 

https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ERA-Annual-

Report-and-financial-statements-2019.pdf 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
is 

information 

upon  request.  The  way  for  the  public  to  request 
environmental 
indicated  on  ERA’s 
website256.  Compliance  inspections  by  ERA  are  planned 
according to a risk management system, which considers 
various factors, apart from  ad hoc circumstances. For all 
categories  of  installations  and  site  inspections,  routine 
inspections  and  compliance 
inspections  are  carried 
out257.  Online  government  services  in  Malta  provide 
information  on 
general  and 
environmental  permits  that  are  needed  for  industry. 
Malta’s  enforcement  approach  under  the  IED  creates 
good  access 
facilitate  public 
participation in the permitting process258. Aside from ERA 
annual  reports,  Malta  does  not  systematically  publish 
environmental  statistics,  although  the  ERA  website 
provides  general 
information  on  compliance  and 
enforcement of facilities259.  

industry-type-specific 

information 

to 

to 

Online  government  services 
in  Malta  are  providing 
general  and  industry  type  specific  information  on  the 
environmental permit for industry and it is noted that the 
enforcement approach under the IED creates good access 
to  information  of  citizens  to  facilitate  their  participation 
in  the  permitting  process260.  Aside  from  ERA  annual 
reports,  no  environmental  statistics  are  systematically 
published,  although  the  ERA  website  provides  general 
information  on  compliance  and  enforcement  of 
facilities261.  Statistics can however be found online262. 

256 
information/ 
257 

https://era.org.mt/topic/making-a-request-for-environmental-

https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/other-facilities/; 
and 

https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/quarries_ced/; 
https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/waste-management-facilities-
ced/. 
258 

https://www.servizz.gov.mt/en/Pages/Environment_-Energy_-

Agriculture-and-Fisheries/Environment/Industrial-
Permits/WEB1873/default.aspx 
https://www.servizz.gov.mt/en/Pages/Environment_-Energy_-
Agriculture-and-Fisheries/Environment/Industrial-
Permits/default.aspx?page=1 
259 

https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/other-facilities/; 
and 

https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/quarries_ced/; 
https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/waste-management-facilities-
ced/. 
260 

https://www.servizz.gov.mt/en/Pages/Environment_-Energy_-

and 

Agriculture-and-Fisheries/Environment/Industrial-
Permits/WEB1873/default.aspx 
https://www.servizz.gov.mt/en/Pages/Environment_-Energy_-
Agriculture-and-Fisheries/Environment/Industrial-
Permits/default.aspx?page=1 
261 

https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/other-facilities/; 
and 

https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/quarries_ced/; 
https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/waste-management-facilities-
ced/. 
262 https://meae.gov.mt/en/Public_Consultations/Pages/statistics.aspx 

and 

Malta  48 

Complaint handling and citizen science 

to 

for 
information 

In  general,  the  public  can  lodge  complaints  through  the 
ERA website263, or by sending an email or by calling ERA 
directly264.  The  way 
request 
the  public 
environmental 
is  highlighted  on  ERA’s 
website265.  It includes: (i) a  general ‘Enquiries’ link  with 
an  email  address  and  phone  numbers  for  people  to  ask 
information;  (ii)  to  submit  a  query  on 
for  further 
environmental  permits;  (iii)  toreport  an  environmental 
illegality;  or  (iv)  request  information266.  The  website  of 
the  Ministry  of  Environment  also  includes  a  link  to  an 
online guide to government services, which provides the 
option  ofcontacting 
the  Ministry  and  providing 
feedback267. Issues such as illegal dumping fall under the 
type  of  complaints 
the 
Environmental  Health  Risk  Management  unit  of  the 
Environmental  Health  Directorate,  which  also  provides 
practical information online on how to file a complaint268. 
However, neither of these fora provide the option to file 
a  general  complaint  about  environmental  nuisance  or 
damage.  

that  can  be  made 

to 

A  webpage  on  citizen  science  is  provided  on  the  ERA 
website,  which  provides  general  information  on  the 
benefits  of  citizen  science  and  the  environmental  topics 
that  can  benefit  from  the  use  of  citizen  science269,and 
includes citizen science systems to record species, report 
invasive  alien  species,  marine  and  beach  sightings  and 
marine and beach clean-ups270. An additional example of 
a  citizen  science  project  in  Malta  is  the  ‘Fair  with  air’ 
project, aimed at promoting citizen science as a tool for: 
(i)  monitoring  NO2  around  schools;  and  (ii)  raising 
awareness of  the importance of air quality. Various long 
term  government  strategy  documents  recognise  the 
importance  of 
increased  public  engagement  and 
education about government policy on sustainability and 
environmental protection271. In addition, Malta published 

- 

in 

are 

the 

link 

Details 

provided 

following 

https://era.org.mt/topic/making-a-request-for-

263 https://forms.eraportal.org.mt/customercare. 
264 
https://era.org.mt/contact/. 
265 
ERA  Website: 
environmental-information/. 
266 https://forms.eraportal.org.mt/customercare It is noted that in case 
of  environmental  emergencies,  the  ERA  can  be  contacted  on  a  24/7 
basis. 
267 https://www.gov.mt/en/Pages/ContactUs.aspx 
268 Ibid. 
269 https://era.org.mt/citizen-science/ 
270 https://era.org.mt/citizen-science/ 
271 See for example the National Strategy for the Environment for 2050: 
‘Recognizing  Malta’s 
at: 
https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Recognising-Maltas-
Env-Challenges.pdf;  and  Malta’  s  Sustainable  Development  Vision  for 
2050’, 
at:  
21, 
https://meae.gov.mt/en/Public_Consultations/MSDEC/Documents/Mal
ta's%20Sustainable%20Development%20Vision%20for%202050.pdf,  p. 
43 

challenges 

available 

available 

2020)’, 

(July 

p. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
‘Malta’s  Sustainable  Development  Vision  for  2050’,  that 
aims  to  achieve  a  more  prosperous,  secure,  sustainable 
and fairer future for the Maltese citizens. 

Enforcement  

law272. 

In  addition, 

The government provides for a general website to search 
case 
information  on  Stop  and 
Compliance  Orders  can  be  sought  via  the  ERA’s 
website273  and  via  the  MEPS  geoportal274.    The  ERA  has 
been  keeping  a  record  of  the  number  of  administrative 
proceedings  on  waste  crime,  but  no  sophisticated  tools 
have  been  set  up  to  analyse  these  data  to  create  an 
overview  of  the  phenomenon275.  The  ERA  has  also 
published  a  waste-shipment  inspection  plan  for  the 
Maltese  islands  for  2017-2019.  This  plan  provides  some 
information on waste-shipment inspections in Malta, but 
no  statistics  or  overview  of  inspection  results276.  The 
Commissioner  of  Police  is  the  competent  authority  in 
relation  to  the  Environmental  Crime.  The  Malta  Police 
the  Environmental 
Force 
Protection  Unit  (EPU)  has  its  own  database  regarding 
Environmental Crimes. These statistics are available once 
a  request  is  made.  The  Wild  Birds  Regulation  Unit  is 
responsible for compiling a  number of technical reports, 
including  derogation  reports 
the 
European  Union’s  reporting  obligations.  However,  the 
Commission has identified structural enforcement issues 
in  the  application  of  the  Birds  Directive  in  Malta,  which 
are the subject to an infringement procedure as pointed 
out under the biodiversity chapter. 

(MPF)  more  specifically 

fulfilment  of 

in 

No  formalised  memoranda  or  guidance  is  available  on 
cooperation  between  different  Maltese  enforcement 
authorities  on  environmental  crime.  However,  the  ERA 
has  announced 
implement  a 
memorandum  of  understanding  for  that  purpose277. 
Furthermore,  in  February  2020,  the  Ministry  for  the 
Environment, Climate Change and Planning announced a 
new reform and capacity-building project  in permissions 

intention 

its 

to 

Malta  49 

and  compliance  at  the  ERA278  to  further 
improve 
environmental governance in the area of compliance and 
enforcement279. This reform and capacity-building project 
aims to further improve environmental governance in the 
area of compliance and enforcement280. It will include: (i) 
improving the skills of its employees; (ii) introducing new 
and  more  efficient  practices; 
the 
management  and  administration  of  data;  and  (iv) 
enhancing the overall effective workings of the ERA. The 
reform  and  capacity-building  project  is  funded  by  the 
government’s 
support 
programme281. It is mainly NGOs in Malta that engage in 
awareness-  raising  initiatives.  One  such  NGO  is  the 
Nature Trust Malta282, whose activities include promoting 
environmental  awareness  and  lobbying  for  effective 
environmental 
environmental 
education283. 

structural-reform 

legislation 

improving 

own 

and 

(iii) 

Furthermore, in 2020, Ambjent Malta has recruited three 
Environmental  Wardens,  who  were 
to 
disseminate  information  on  monitoring  in  Natura  2000 
sites. Dissemination of information includes the provision 
of 
information  on  the  various  habitat  restoration 
projects. 

tasked 

Environmental Liability Directive  

The Commission could not identify any online registry or 
central database where data on environmental incidents 
or  ELD  cases  in  Malta  are  collected  General  information 
on environmental damage and on preventing/ remedying 
environmental  damage 
the  ERA 
website284.  However,  this  website  does  not  provide  any 
specific  data  on  environmental  damages  in  relation  to 
mandatory financial security for liabilities under the ELD. 
The  Environment  Protection  Act  (EPA)285  allows  for  the 
Competent Authority to impose bank guarantees (BGs) as 
means  of  financial  security  and  as  an  incentive  to 
compliance as legally-binding permit conditions. BGs are 

is  provided  on 

Report 

Crime’. 

on  Malta. 

272 https://justice.gov.mt/en/COJ/Pages/default.aspx 
273 Website ERA: https://era.org.mt/topic/case-details-updated/. 
274 Available at: https://meps.eraportal.org.mt/. 
275 8th Round of mutual evaluations: ‘The practical implementation and 
operation  of  European  policies  on  preventing  and  combating 
Environmental 
at: 
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5518-2019-REV-
1/en/pdf. 
276 Waste Shipment Inspection Plan for The Maltese Islands’ Inspection 
https://era.org.mt/wp-
Available 
plan 
content/uploads/2019/11/MT-Waste-Shipment-Inspection-Plan-
final.pdf. 
277 8th Round of mutual evaluations: "The practical implementation and 
operation  of  European  policies  on  preventing  and  combating 
Environmental  Crime".  Report  on  Malta,  p.  8.  Available  at 
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5518-2019-REV-
1/en/pdf. 

(2017-2019). 

Available 

at: 

Press 

Press 

release,  Government 

release,  Government 

of  Malta.  Available 

https://era.org.mt/projects/reform-and-capacity-building-in-

278 
permitting-and-compliance-at-era/ 
279 
at: 
https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/20
20/February/04/pr200176en.aspx and Reform and Capacity - Building in 
Permitting and Compliance at ERA – ERA. 
280 
at: 
https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/20
20/February/04/pr200176en.aspx. 
281 
at: 
https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/20
20/February/04/pr200176en.aspx. 
282 https://naturetrustmalta.org/. 
283 https://naturetrustmalta.org/environmental-education/. 
284 
https://era.org.mt/topic/prevention-remedying/ 
https://era.org.mt/topic/environmental-damage/ 
285 LEĠIŻLAZZJONI MALTA (legislation.mt) 

of  Malta.  Available 

of  Malta.  Available 

release,  Government 

Press 

and 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
 
Malta  50 

Administrative capacity and quality 

On  the  general  system  of  protection  for  all  species  of 
birds,  illegal  killing  or  capturing  of  migratory  species 
outside  the  legal  capturing  seasons  has  been  regularly 
reported  in  Malta,  year  after  year.  Many  wild  birds  are 
illegally shot in Malta throughout the whole year, due to 
lack  of  personnel, 
and 
deterrence. This constitutes a systemic failure to set up a 
general  system  of  protection  as  required  by  Article  5  of 
the Birds Directive. These systemic flaws are addressed in 
a pending infringement procedure. 

cooperation 

resources, 

Coordination and integration  

As  mentioned  in  the  2017  EIR,  the  transposition  of  the 
revised  EIA  Directive291  provides  an  opportunity  to 
streamline  the  regulatory  framework  on  environmental 
assessments.  Despite  a  delay  in  full  transposition  in 
relation  to  the  deadline  (May  2017),  Malta  has  now 
transposed  the  revised  Directive.  The  quality  of  the 
transposition  is  currently  under  assessment  through  a 
conformity check by the Commission.  

the 

The  Commission  encourages 
streamlining  of 
environmental  assessments  to  reduce  duplication  and 
avoid  overlaps  in  environmental  assessments  applicable 
to  projects.  Moreover,  streamlining  helps 
reduce 
unnecessary  administrative  burden  and  accelerates 
is  done  without 
decision  making,  provided 
compromising 
the  environmental 
assessment  procedure292.  Malta  had  already  introduced 
the streamlining of environmental assessments under the 
EIA and Habitats Directives before the revision of the EIA 
Directive. Coordinated procedures have been decided on 
for the EIA Directive, the WFD and the IED.   

it 
the  quality  of 

2022 priority actions 

 

Continue  building  administrative  capacity  to 
support the green transition and in particular in 
the  fields  of  circular  economy,  governance  and 
public  administration,  and  the  financial  sector 
and access to finance. 

directly associated with Environment Permits in that ERA 
may forfeit part or the full amount of the bank guarantee 
if  any  of  the  permit  conditions  are  not  complied  with. 
Moreover,  the  Environment  Protection  Act286  allows  for 
the ERA to take direct action to remediate environmental 
illegalities at the expense of the party responsible for the 
illegality. 

In  the  2019  EIR,  Malta  received  priority  actions  to:  (i) 
better  inform  the  public  about  compliance  promotion, 
monitoring  and  enforcement; 
(ii)  ensure  more 
information  on  how  professionals  dealing  with 
environmental  crime  can  work  together;  (iii)  improve 
financial security for liabilities; (iv) improve ELD guidance; 
and (v) publish information on environmental damage. 

As  a  reaction  to  the  priority  action  to  better  inform  the 
public,  the  ERA  website  has  undergone  numerous 
updates, which is an ongoing in order to provide more in-
depth  information  on  the  various  sectors.  Judgments  of 
the  courts  of  Malta  are  available  through  the  e-Courts 
website287 as well as via the EPRT website288. Malta Police 
Force and specifically the Environmental Protection  Unit 
has its own database regarding Environmental crimes289. 
In  relation  to  the  third  priority  action,  reports  on 
investigated ELD cases are available on request and ELD-
reporting documents are available online within the ERA 
website.  Hence,  the  ERA  website  provides  public 
information on ELD and its implementation290. 

2022 priority actions 

 

 

the 

information  on 

Consider  publishing  plans  and  reports  on 
environmental  inspections  or  providing  more 
results  of 
detailed 
inspections and their follow-up.   
the  public  on 
information 
Improve 
opportunities 
about 
file 
to 
environmental  concerns  or  infringements  and 
publish  data  on 
such 
the 
complaints. 

complaints 

follow-up 

to 

to 

Effectiveness of environmental 
administrations  

in 

involved 

implementing 

Those 
environmental 
legislation at EU, national, regional and local levels need 
to have the knowledge, tools and capacity to ensure that 
the  legislation  and  the  governance  of  the  enforcement 
process bring about the intended benefits.  

286 https://legislation.mt/Legislation 
287 https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/Judgements 
288 https://www.eprt.org.mt/ 
289 Noted that the Commissioner of Police is the competent authority in 
relation to the Environmental Crime. 
290 https://era.org.mt/topic/the-environmental-liability-directive/ 

291 Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 16 April 2014 amending Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of 
the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. 
292 The Commission issued a guidance document in 2016 on the setting 
up  of  coordinated  and/or  joint  procedures  that  are  simultaneously 
subject  to  assessments  under  the  EIA  Directive,  Habitats  Directive, 
Water Framework Directive, and the Industrial Emissions Directive, OJ C 
273, 27.7.2016, p. 1.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Malta  51 

Reforms through the Commission’s technical 
support instrument (TSI) 

The Commission supports environmental implementation 
and  the  green  transition  through  the  EU  financing 
programmes.  But 
it  also  gives  support  by  granting 
technical assistance such as through the TSI and peer-to-
peer learning through Taiex peer-to-peer exchanges. 

The Commission’s TSI293 supported projects in 2019, 2020 
and 2021 in the following fields in Malta: 

 

 

 

 

 

the  reform  and  capacity-building  at  the  ERA  in 
2019; 
the  development  of  a  sustainable  development 
strategy for the Maltese islands for 2050 and an 
accompanying action plan, in 2019; 
supporting the improvement of productivity and 
service provision in the water sector in 2020; 
implementation 
sustainable 
development  strategy  &  an  accompanning 
action plan, (2021); 
a coastal protection strategy in 2021. 

of  Malta's 

TAIEX EIR peer-to-peer 

The  Commission  launched  the  TAIEX  EIR  Peer-to-Peer 
tool294  to 
learning  between 
Member State’s environmental authorities.  

facilitate  peer-to-peer 

In  2019,  Malta  benefited  from    a  study  visit  in  Belgium 
and an expert mission on waste management. Malta also 
participated 
two  multi-country  workshops  on 
ammonia reducing technology and measures in 2021 and 
zero pollution in 2022. 

in 

Instrument  (TSI)  |  European  Commission 

293  Technical  Support 
(europa.eu). 
294  TAIEX  -  Environmental  Implementation  Review  -  PEER  2  PEER  - 
Environment - European Commission (europa.eu) 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Malta