Comino’s Blue Lagoon, one of Malta’s most iconic natural sites, is once again facing a summer season dominated by unregulated commercial activity. Despite years of public commitments by successive tourism ministers to address illegal kiosks and unauthorised beach concessions, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Operators who have long lacked valid permits are expected to continue trading throughout the upcoming peak season, reinforcing concerns about governance failures and environmental neglect at a protected Natura 2000 site....
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NEWS Malta
October 14, 2025
Marco Gaffarena’s Kirkop ODZ plan faces rejection
The controversial Maltese developer Marco Gaffarena, a name long associated with political scandal and public criticism, is once again under the spotlight—this time over his ongoing attempt to convert agricultural...
NEWS Malta
October 3, 2025
Malta faces nationwide protest over planning reforms
A national protest is scheduled to take place in Valletta on Saturday, 4 October at 10am, as Moviment Graffitti and a broad coalition of environmental and civic organisations rally against...
NEWS Malta
August 8, 2025
NGOs urge withdrawal of Malta planning reform bills
A coalition of ten prominent environmental and civic organisations has once again urged Prime Minister Robert Abela to withdraw two controversial planning bills that were tabled in parliament at the...
NEWS Malta
May 16, 2025
Comino visitor cap reinstated to protect environment
The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has reintroduced its overtourism control measures at Comino’s iconic Blue Lagoon, following a court decision that lifted a temporary suspension on the rules. The Court...
NEWS Malta
May 13, 2025
Court Delays Ruling on Blue Lagoon Tourism Cap
The fate of Comino’s embattled Blue Lagoon tourism management plan remains uncertain, as a final court ruling on the cap imposed by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has been officially...
NEWS Malta
April 15, 2025
Illegal kiosks return to Comino despite protection laws
Despite Comino’s status as a designated Natura 2000 site—part of the EU's network of protected natural areas—illegal kiosks will once again be allowed to operate on the island in the...
NEWS Malta
April 9, 2025
PN motion challenges new environmental permit rules
The Nationalist Party (PN) has tabled a parliamentary motion proposing amendments to the newly introduced Environmental Permits Regulations, which it argues are ineffective and unclear. The party believes that the...
NEWS Malta
March 24, 2025
Decades of illegal development at La Grotta club
The owner of the well-known La Grotta nightclub in Xlendi, Gozo, is currently contesting a substantial €59,000 financial penalty imposed by the Planning Authority (PA). This fine was levied as...
NEWS Malta
March 22, 2025
Illegal Gozo Restaurant Disappears Amid Relocation Bid
A restaurant that was illegally constructed on public ODZ (Outside Development Zone) land near Gozo’s heliport in Xewkija has mysteriously vanished from the Planning Authority’s (PA) online mapping system. This...
NEWS Malta
February 26, 2025
ODZ elderly home permit revoked amid controversy
The Environment and Planning Review Tribunal has overturned a permit that was granted in December 2023 for the construction of a four-storey-old people’s home on an Outside Development Zone (ODZ)...
NEWS Malta
December 19, 2024
Malta’s Costly Legal Battle Over Finch Trapping
Malta’s government has spent nearly €200,000 defending its bird-trapping practices in European courts, only to face repeated defeats. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against Malta twice, declaring its...
NEWS Malta
December 3, 2024
Sustainable Development Plans for Malta’s Future
In a recent speech delivered in Parliament, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli addressed an ongoing debate surrounding the expansion of development areas in Malta. Minister Dalli stressed the importance of taking...
Tourism
July 2, 2024
Malta’s Wildlife and Nature Reserves
With its unique geographical location in the Mediterranean Sea, #Malta is home to a diverse range of #wildlife and #nature reserves that are not only breathtaking but also crucial for...
Tourism
June 27, 2024
Sustainable Tourism in Malta
With the increasing awareness of the environmental impact of #tourism, sustainable tourism has become a growing trend in many destinations, including #Malta. This small Mediterranean island nation has been making...
Laws, NEWS Malta
March 7, 2024
Malta’s Law – What’s Changing?
There's a significant shift happening in Malta's legal landscape that is important to be aware of. New regulations are being introduced that will impact various aspects of life in Malta,...