EU REPORT HIGHLIGHTS MALTA’S NOISE POLLUTION AS SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

A special report by the Citizens Policy Department of the European Parliament has placed Malta’s noise pollution under detailed EU scrutiny, highlighting significant health impacts and calling for stronger action to address sources not covered by the EU Noise Directive.

The study, commissioned at the request of MEP Peter Agius in the Petitions Committee, confirms that many residents are exposed to harmful noise levels, primarily from construction, the entertainment industry, road traffic, and aircraft.

Noise is recognised across Europe as the second most significant environmental health risk after air pollution, and Malta’s high population density and limited mitigation options exacerbate the problem.

The report includes 13 recommendations, urging broader noise monitoring, the introduction of sound limiters in entertainment venues, and stronger regulatory approaches similar to those applied to industrial emissions.

It also calls for better use of planning and environmental assessments, improved public access to noise information, and the creation of a national body to coordinate noise policy.

“This study confirms what many families in Malta have been saying for years: noise is not a minor inconvenience, it is a real public health issue,” said Agius. He stressed the need for effective measures to empower residents and create a healthier, quieter living environment.

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