Chamber of Advocates

Public Statement on the Protection of Agricultural Land Regulations

The Chamber expresses serious concern regarding the recently published Protection of Agricultural Land Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice 150 of 2025) (the “Regulations”). These concerns centre around the following principal issues: 1. Lack of Parliamentary scrutiny and timing The Regulations, which carry significant implications on the rights of landowners,primarily, the de facto expropriation of unregistered agricultural land in terms of Regulation 9, have been introduced through a Legal Notice, and not by means of an Act of Parliament. The Chamber shall not enter into the merits of whether the Agriculture Act(Cap. 639), as the enabling Act under which these Regulations have been published, does in fact grant the Minister the authority to introduce measures that result in de factoexpropriations. However, it must be emphasised that basic democratic principles of due process and fairness would dictate that decisions of such magnitude be subject to open public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. A legal notice, introduced in such a manner, offers neither. The Chamber’s concern, and that of several of its members, lies in fact that the power to deprive landowners of the possession of…

Aug 18, 2025 • News • By CoA

PA Bills Statement from the Chamber of Advocates

The Chamber expresses its concern in relation to Bill 143 [Development Planning (Amendment) Bill] and Bill 144 [Environment and Planning Review Tribunal Bill] which were respectively tabled before the House of Representatives on the 23rd July 2025. The Chamber is of the view that the content of the aforesaid Bills, which will serve to effectively overhaul Planning Legislation in Malta and will directly impact Maltese citizens,should be the subject of a wide-ranging consultation exercise involving all stakeholders and the public at large. The matters listed hereunder – whilst not exhaustive – are of particular concern and undoubtedly merit further discussion: a) the nearly unfettered discretion which is proposed to be granted to the Planning Authority, including the power to depart from the provisions of the Local Plans in its discretion. It is the Chamber’s view that this clearly runs counter to the fundamental principles of legal certainty and transparency which must be strictly adhered to, particularly in this sensitivecontext; b) the fact that the aforementioned discretion has been coupled with a narrowing of (i) the parameters of the review which may be carried out by…

Aug 05, 2025 • News • By CoA

Chamber of Advocates Monthly Newsletter – May 2025

This is the Chamber of Advocates’ newsletter for the month of May 2025.

Jun 01, 2025 • News • By CoA

Chamber of Advocates Monthly Newsletter – April 2025

This is the Chamber of Advocates’ newsletter for the month of April 2025. Mediation Sub-Committee: composed of Dr Jonathan Abela Fiorentino and Dr Umberto Borg Cardona: In-house Lawyers Sub-Committe: composed of Dr Jean Noel Cutajar, Dr Daniel Attard, Dr Stefan Grima, Dr Gertrude Borg Micallef, Dr Ruth Vella Falzon, and Dr Michael Agius. Gaming Law Sub-Committee: composed of Dr Deo Falzon, Dr Paul Micallef Grimaud, Dr James Scicluna, Dr Andrea Theuma and Dr Malcolm Falzon This committee has been involved in discussions with the Malta Gaming Authority which had sought the feedback of the Chamber concerning the proposed Authorised Application Managers Regulations and Policy Document. The committee has conducted a review and has proposed amendments to the circulated draft framework. Summer Party: We’d pleased to announce that the date of the Chamber’s Summer Gathering will be Friday the 11th July in the evening. Keep the date free! More info will be…

May 01, 2025 • News • By CoA

Chamber of Advocates Monthly Newsletter – March 2025

The Chamber of Advocates will start issuing a monthly newsletter to inform its members of the work which the Chamber, together with its sub-committees, would have carried out during the previous month, including updates regarding any meetings held with various entities and authorities. This is our first newsletter in this series, covering the month of March 2025. Finally, stay tuned for more details regarding our summer event in July! Chamber of Advocates

Apr 01, 2025 • News • By CoA