Together for a Sustainable Future?
NGOs Joint Press Release 02/10/2008: Throughout summer of 2006, the authorities justified the Rationalisation scheme to use more countryside for construction purposes by claiming that this would seal shut the development zones and prevent further building Out of Development Zone (ODZ).  Before and after this year’s general elections, the electorate continued to be promised more environmental awareness and respect, with emphasis on protection of the countryside.  Six months down the road and this promise is far from materialising. Over the last six months alone, MEPA approved not less than 318 permits to build structures in the countryside or ODZ, many of which are to be built on fresh agricultural land.  Although MEPA regulations stipulate that only bona fide agricultural structures, parks and recreational facilities are normally permitted to be built in ODZ, the NGOs are dismayed to see that these permits included flats, garages and light industries. It is therefore hardly surprising that developers are still confident of obtaining permits to build in ODZ and that in spite of official declarations of “no more speculation in ODZ” such applications continue to flood into MEPA, with over 1,160* submitted to MEPA over the last twelve months, at an average rate of 20% of the total of applications submitted. The rate of take-up of agricultural sites has further escalated recently with the setting up of small industry complexes such as the micro-industry park on fields at ‘Telgha t’Alla u’Ommu’, Naxxar and several other sites which consume a great many tumoli of previously arable land when the carcasses of unfinished showrooms and empty factories litter the island. This could have been avoided by a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) on the sector’s present facilities and future needs. Similarly agro-industries are also being permitted to re-locate to cultivated fields in an unregulated manner rather than being incentivated to re-use abandoned farm buildings. The lack of revision of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, which actually facilitate ODZ projects, and the sixteen-year delay in setting up the Consultants’ Register and Code of Ethics, which could have taken place well before MEPA reform, also leaves the countryside more vulnerable to predatory mega-projects such as those at Hondoq ir-Rummien, Ramla l-Hamra and Mellieha Bay. In view of this, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), Friends of the Earth (Malta), Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Ramblers Association of Malta, Save Wied Garnaw, Birdlife (Malta), NatureTrust Malta and Gaia Foundation are calling on Government to stop this unsustainable destruction of Malta’s rural areas. The damage inflicted on the limited remaining open undeveloped land and the environment is irreversible and leads to increased dependence on food imports, loss of biodiversity and rural character, decreased water catchment and infringement of EU regulations.  Most importantly, we are depriving present and future generations of the physical and mental health benefits as well as improved quality of life that only the countryside can provide.   With MEPA reform still very far from being implemented, the environment NGOs are extremely concerned that the countryside is as much under threat as ever and that the promised protection of the countryside is still very far from becoming reality. * Data as published by MEPA on-line.
European Seminar on organic food and farming and its political framework in Hungary
Brussels/Budapest 17/09/2008 – The mid- and long-term development of the CAP as well as the new EU regulation on organic food and farming will be the main topics of the European seminar taking place in Hortobágy from September 18 to 21, 2008. These topics will also be presented by representatives of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, IFOAM EU and Kishantos Rural Development Centre in a press conference in the Agricultural Ministry in Budapest on September 17, 14.30 am. The press conference will be opened and participants will be welcomed by Gőgös Zoltán, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Alessandro Triantafyllidis, vice-president of IFOAM EU Group, will present the work of IFOAM EU Group and give an overview of the subjects to be covered in the seminar. Czeller Gábor, president of the Hungarian Biokultúra Association, will talk about the current situation of organic farming in Hungary and Ács Sándorné, chairwoman of Kishantos Rural Development Centre, will present the opinion of Hungarian organic stakeholders. The seminar (1), involving about 35 national experts from 21 countries, is organised by the IFOAM EU Group (2), Kishantos Rural Development Centre and the Hungarian members of IFOAM - Hungarian Biokultúra Federation, Hungarian Organic Farmers’ Association and Biokontroll Hungária Nonprofit Kft. – and Hortobágy Nonprofit Company for Nature Conservation and Gene Preservation with funding from the European Commission (3). The seminar conclusions will be presented in a public presentation on Friday, September 19 at 5pm at Hortobágy Nonprofit Company. Representatives of the Agricultural ministry, IFOAM EU Group and the organic farming movement of Hungary will be present. All interested stakeholders are invited. Malta is represented by John Portelli from Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM) who will be participating in this European Seminar. Mr. Portelli is a board member of the IFOAM-EU Group  and participates on various expert groups.  More information: IFOAM EU Group, phone + 32-2-280 12 23, Fax: +32-2-735 73 81, info@ifoam-eu.org, www.ifoam-eu.org _______________________________________________________________________________ Notes (1) The CAP Seminar "Sustainable agriculture in Europe – the role of organic food and farming and its political framework", will afford the opportunity to outline impacts of changing legal frameworks in Europe. About 35 experts of the organic and environmental sector will meet in Hortobágy, Hungary, to discuss the future situation of the organic food and farming sector. (2) The IFOAM EU Group represents the 334 member organisations of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) in the EU, and including EFTA and Accession countries. Member organisations include: consumer, farmer and processor associations; research, education and advisory organisations; certification bodies and commercial organic companies. (3) The seminar will take place from 18-21 September in Hortobágy, Hungary. It is co-financed by the European Community, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. The sole responsibility for the communication/ publication lies with the author. The Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.