The Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment is responsible for the formulation and implementation of  policies relating to the promotion of sustainable development, protection and management of the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is responsible for implementing Government policy with regards to the regulation of the environment. The Environment Landscapes Consortium (ELC) deals with the embellishment and landscaping of urban areas whilst the Department for Parks, Afforestation and Countryside Restoration (PARK) is responsible for afforestation and the maintenance of rural areas and national parks. WasteServ Malta Ltd. is responsible for providing waste management infrastructure. As none of these entities can provide strategic environmental policy direction, the Ministry needs to develop the necessary capacity to plan, design and promote environmental and embellishment policies, programmes and initiatives. Hence, the Directorate of Environment Policy and Initiatives was set up in September 2005 to advise the Ministry on the formulation of environmental policy, own all policy options developed within the Ministry and ensure that policy options are implemented through the development and execution of appropriate programmes.

The Directorate’s main aims are to:-

• formulate the Government policy on the environment;
• set up the framework within which all the entities falling under MRAE's environment portfolio operate;
• devise and implement the MRAE’s environment related programmes and initiatives;
• disseminate knowledge and awareness concerning the environment.

To attain its aims, the Directorate is carrying out the following functions:-

• developing environmental policy through stakeholder engagement to ensure that the proposed policies meet the expectations, needs and interests of the stakeholders;
• put forward proposals regarding environmental policy to the Minister and the Permanent Secretary for decisions to be taken;
• delivering and/or co-ordinating the Ministry’s environmental initiatives/projects;
• monitoring projects undertaken by entities within the MRAE’s environment portfolio and ensuring timeframes for such projects are met;
• managing the environment reserves, in collaboration with the relevant NGOs;
• co-ordinating LIFE and other EU and international environment programmes;
• providing customer care service;
• managing environment education and awareness;
• providing advice and support with regards to the environment to other Government entities, Local Councils, the education sector and the private sector.

Any request for information should be forwarded to:

Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Directorate of Environment Policy and Initiatives
Barriera Wharf
Valletta
Malta