Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/755517
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2016 16 News The Italian referendum next Sunday could have major implications on financial markets and the EU. PAUL COCKS tries to make sense of all the hype and drama leading up to the 4 December plebiscite and understand how one country's referendum could have far-reaching effects not just for Italy but for many others too, Malta included ON Sunday, 4 December, Italians will have the opportunity to usher in greater political stability in a country that has seen 63 govern- ments since World War II ended in 1945. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is attempting to improve continuity with constitutional changes which would limit the power of the second chamber (the senate) and make it easier for the government to enact legislation. The reforms would also take the number of senators down from 315 to 100, and source them from regional government rather than through direct election. But Renzi has – possibly unwisely – made the vote personal by pledg- ing to resign if the public votes against the reforms. The referen- dum has thus been turned into a chance to rebel against the govern- ment. If Renzi does stand down, a care- taker government would be ap- pointed until a general election in 2017 or 2018, with the anti-estab- lishment Five Star Movement – founded just seven years ago by co- median Beppe Grillo – standing a good chance of getting into power. In the past, Grillo has called for a referendum on whether Italy should keep the euro, and to re- consider the country's role in the European Union. An 'Italexit' would likely have disastrous consequences domesti- cally as the economy is only just getting back on its feet and its banking system is particularly fragile. Italy's departure could also spark the end of the Eu- ropean Union en- tirely; the domino effect that started with the UK's vote to leave could de- stroy the whole of the EU as popula- tions in austerity- laden countries such as Greece decide that they also wish to be free of directives from Brus- sels. An Italian journalist's insight MaltaToday spoke to Lorenzo Bagnoli, a board member of the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI) – a centre for inves- tigative journal- ism based in Italy – and a contributor to Il Fatto q u o t i d i - ano, about the possible ramifications of the Italian vote on Eu- rope in gener- al, and Malta in particular. Bagnoli said that the referendum result would affect all Europe, and therefore Malta too, particularly in light of the close relationship between the countries, which was further strengthened under Renzi. He said the result could deter- mine what role Italy assumes in the EU in the near future, with particu- lar focus on the issue of immigra- tion. "One of the very few negotiating tools Italy possesses when dealing with the EU is its role in managing the influx of immigrants into the Europe," he said. "Renzi has been seen lately bring- ing up the issue of migration and Italy's role in the burden-sharing programme when seeking flexibil- ity from Brussels on his country's balancing of public accounts." Bagnoli said that this position could change should Grillo's Five-Star Movement ob- tain a majority to form a government, al- though they too could soon real- ise that Italy does not possess many more negotiating tools when deal- ing with Brussels. He said that Eu- rope was under threat on many fronts, not only in Italy, but to say that a 'No' result in the referendum signifies a vote in favour of pop- ulism would be a form of "psycho- logical terrorism". "This is a global threat that we have also seen in the United States with Donald Trump," he said. "And a new constitutional reform will not save Italy, far from it." Bagnoli said that those lobbying for a 'No' outcome were arguing that a parliament so 'answerable' to the prime minister – as proposed JAMES DEBONO A modern version of a knight's tower has been built in place of a pile of rubble in Zebbug, Gozo. It was MaltaToday which a year ago had revealed that the Plan- ning Authority had approved the "reconstruction" of a two-storey building in the middle of the Zeb- bug countryside in Gozo… instead of a pile of rubble which is what is left of an older structure. The controversial approval was made possible by a policy included in the rural design guidelines – is- sued in 2014 – which include a provision allowing the Planning Authority to grant permission for "the total redevelopment" of any pre-1978 agricultural building as long as the same floor space is re- tained. The draft policy issued for public consultation in 2013 had originally excluded "ruins" from benefitting from this policy, but this provision was removed in the document ap- proved by the government in 2014 – and this is now allowing the merest of derelict structures to be brought back to life. By approving the new building in the area known as Ta' Kenga, the PA's Environment Planning Com- mission, chaired by Elisabeth Ellul, ignored the objection made by the environment protection directo- rate (EPD) and the natural heritage advisory panel (NHAP). Biologist Charles Grech was the only board member to vote against the con- troversial approval. The applicant, Nicholas Vella, was represented by architect Alex- ander Bigeni and proposed the re- construction of a two-storey struc- ture over a footprint of 25 square metres. The new building has a floor space of 50 square metres, con- necting the two storeys through a spiral staircase. It is unclear how the upper floor can be used as an agricultural store. The site is being proposed for designation as an Area of Eco- logical Importance and an Area of High Landscape Value. The EPD warned that "the ruins" should not be used "as a pretext for a new agricultural room on the site." It also expressed concern on the proliferation of buildings in the countryside and also strongly objected to the height proposed, insisting that a two-storey devel- opment was unacceptable. The EPD's stance was reiterated by the NHAP. But the case officer report ar- gued that the building could be approved thanks to a policy ap- proved in 2014 which allows the redevelopment of any agricultural building constructed before 1978. Aerial photos dating back to 1978 showed "structural remains" and the two-storey height of the build- ing was deduced "from the shadow of the structure." Old photos of the structure were also submitted "showing remains of the tall façade of the old agricultural store." PA approved demolition of old building In the meantime a vernacular structure known as Qbajjar Cot- tage in Triq ix-Xwejni in Zebbug has been recently demolished af- ter its demolition was approved in May 2013. In 2011 the Heritage Advisory Committee had objected to the demolition of the old house. But the PA's Heritage Planning Unit approved the demolition of the building after concluding that the existing building was dangerous and unusable due to cement plas- ter covering the original stone. The demolition will make way for a three-storey block of flats and an overlying penthouse. In May 2016 the PA approved minor amendments to the development and works started a few weeks ago. The new tower which has risen in the countryside instead of the pile of rubble Tower rises instead of rubble in Gozo "One of the very few negotiating tools Italy possesses when dealing with the EU is its role in managing the influx of immigrants into the Europe" Matteo Renzi