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The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and the NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) are organizing a course being run jointly between the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and FAA and financed through the Ministry. This course is being held to familiarize NGO volunteers with MEPA regulations, structures and planning permit procedures.

The Ministry emphasized that this initiative should continue to help in the way stakeholder consultation should be informed to better influence the planning process. The Ministry augurs that the success of this initiative will lead to more of these courses in the future. Furthermore, it is the policy of this Administration to have an informed civil society which in turn leads to better public participation.

Astrid Vella, coordinator of Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar added that by accepting to participate in this radical scheme of taking the sessions to volunteers area by area, MEPA is giving tangible help to FAA to strengthen local groups, giving them the tools with which to protect their urban and rural heritage as well as their quality of life. “The response from FAA members has been very encouraging and the first sessions have proved to be a forum for stimulating debate. A second location will start this week - given time and the continued support of MEPA and the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, it is hoped that these courses will be extended to other areas of Malta.”