Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1000343
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 JULY 2018 NEWS Funding Opportunities European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020 The Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme for Malta (2014 – 2020) provides funding opportunities to the fishing industry and related coastal communities to help them adapt to ever-changing sectoral conditions whilst fostering their economical resilience and ecological sustainability. The Fund will be of assistance in reaching the objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and support the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy, as delineated in Regulation (EU) № 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Funds and Programmes Division is hereby informing the general public that the third call for proposals was launched on the 28 th June 2018. Article 30 – Measure I.6 Diversification and new forms of income Article 41(1) – Measure I.20 Energy efficiency and mitigation of climate change On board investments; energy efficiency audits and schemes; studies Deadline for submission of Application Forms: 31 st August 2018 (11:00 am) The call for the above-mentioned Measures has a total allocation of € 500,000.00 in public eligible funds (European Union and Malta shares). The Managing Authority reserves the right to decrease or increase the said allocation. Application Forms can be downloaded from the web link www.eufunds.gov.mt / www.eufundsmalta.gov.mt An Information session will be held on the 20 th July 2018 for registered prospective applicants. Participants are to register their intent to participate in the information session by not later than 13 th July 2018 (noon). A copy of the registration form can be downloaded from the above web link or can be requested via telephone on 22001108 or via e-mail to fpd.meae@gov.mt. * Operations related to small-scale coastal fisheries may benefit from an increase of 30% in public aid intensity, while operations implemented by enterprises that fall outside the definition of SMEs shall have the public aid intensity reduced by 20%. This only applies to Article 41(1) – Measure I.20. Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme 2014-2020 Part-financed by the European Union European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Co-financing rate: 37.5% European Union Funds; 12.5% National Funds; 50% Private Funds* Investing in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Re- sources Authority is still considering whether to ap- peal the approval of an ODZ petrol station on agricultural land in Luqa on land adja- cent to the Water Services Corporation while its right to appeal against the approv- al of a petrol station in Bur- marrad is being contested by the developer. "ERA is awaiting the pub- lication of the PA's decision and will consider according- ly. We appreciate that the appeal process is one of the tools that ERA has to affect the planning process. We are careful to use such tool appropriately," a spokesper- son for ERA told MaltaTo- day. Last year ERA had also ap- pealed against the approval of a petrol station on agri- cultural land opposite the Kiabi discount store. While the St Paul's Bay Local Council's appeal was dropped after the approval of a motion by Labour Party representative, Alfred Gri- ma, the Review Tribunal will still have to consider an ap- peal by ERA. However, the Environmen- tal and Resources Author- ity's right to appeal against an ODZ petrol station – ap- proved and already built in Burmarrad opposite the Ki- abi shopping outlet – is be- ing contested by developer, Joseph Attard, who, in this case, is represented by Dr Paul Lia, Dr Micheal Grech and Dr Alicia Camilleri. According to the tribunal's minutes, ERA's right is be- ing challenged because of its role as an "external consult- ee" during the processing of the application. A similar argument had been made by the Planning Authority's lawyer, Robert Abela, during proceedings on ERA's appeal against the approval of the townsquare project in Sliema. But on that occasion the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal ruled that NGOs, the Environment and Resources Author- ity and local councils have a right to appeal decisions on developments, despite hav- ing a seat on the Planning Board when decisions to grant permits are given. The law approved in 2015 gave the Environment and Resources Authority the power to appeal against per- mits approved by the Au- thority. This was hailed by former Environment Min- ister, Leo Brincat, as one of the key changes in the over- haul of planning laws. "Giving a public authority the power to appeal against a decision taken by another authority may be politically embarrassing for any gov- ernment. But we are taking that risk," Brincat told Mal- taToday. So far, the ERA has only used its power to appeal twice; against the approval of a 38-storey tower in Slie- ma and against the Burmar- rad petrol station. ERA's appeal against the Towns- quare permit for a 38-storey was rejected by the Environ- ment and Planning Review Tribunal. But the permit was revoked because the ap- peals presented by ENGOs and the Local council were accepted. In its appeal against the Burmarrad petrol station, ERA has presented a num- ber of arguments question- ing its approval. According to ERA, the development goes against the policy on fuel filling stations in that the footprint exceeds the required 3,000sq.m and the site lies about 450m away from the nearest fuel fill- ing station, in breach of a required distance of 500m. ERA also contends that the Authority made the wrong interpretation of the Policy when it stated that the re- quired distance of 500m distance does not apply be- cause of the nearby traffic junction. ERA also argued that its objections were not given weight in the determi- nation of the decision by the Authority. ERA still considering appeal against Luqa petrol station Authority's appeal against petrol station in Burmarrad being challenged by developer's lawyers MATTHEW AGIUS A court of appeal has spared prison to a man accused of drug possession charges on ac- count of his progress in fighting addiction. On 16 February 2016, 36 year-old Nathan Cooper had been sentenced to five months imprisonment for possession of benzodiazepine, heroin and cannabis. Through his lawyers Alfred Abela and Charmaine Cher- ret, Cooper had filed an appeal against the judgment, arguing that he had been trying his hard- est to fight his drug dependency but had made a mistake and fallen back into old habits. Judge Giovanni Grixti, pre- siding the Court of Appeal, noted that the accused had, on his fourth attempt, con- cluded the third phase of drug rehab before pulling out of the final phase. However 21 urine samples had shown that the man was no longer using drugs. By way of exception to the general principle that appeals courts do no disturb the dis- cretion used by courts of first instance in handing out pun- ishment, the Court of Appeal noted that this was a window of opportunity for the accused and in the best interest of so- ciety that he be encouraged down the right path. Noting that "it is in the in- terest of the appellant that the court is convinced that this change is not one of conveni- ence and at the end of the day he would be misleading only himself if this is not the case," the court revoked the five -month prison sentence and instead placed Cooper under a two-year probation order. magius@mediatoday.com.mt Recovering drug addict given second chance