MEP Peter Agius Calls for Immediate Action on Sewage Pollution in Maltese Coastal Waters

MEP Peter Agius urged the European Commission to address sewage pollution in Maltese waters, citing persistent wastewater management failures. During a petition discussion, he highlighted systemic infrastructure pressures leading to untreated sewage discharge and repeated beach closures. The European Commission acknowledged ongoing breaches of EU regulations and pledged to consider further action. Agius stressed the need for a clean sea and pointed out the negative impact on marine ecosystems and public trust in environmental governance.

Published Mar 25, 2026

MEP Peter Agius has called for urgent intervention from the European Commission regarding sewage pollution in Maltese coastal waters. During a petition discussion, he emphasized failures in wastewater management leading to untreated sewage discharge and frequent beach closures.

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The European Commission confirmed ongoing breaches of EU rules and indicated potential further actions. Agius highlighted infrastructure pressures, including overdevelopment and inadequate wastewater treatment, leading to deteriorating water quality and damage to marine ecosystems.

Despite previous legal actions, pollution issues have persisted for over a decade. In 2024, Malta's Water Services Corporation initiated a €310 million investment plan to modernize water and sewage systems, while 2025 saw nine sewage leak incidents resulting in beach closures.