European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella would not say this morning how he would be voting in the forthcoming spring hunting referendum in April.

Asked about his voting intentions following a meeting with Environment Minister Leo Brincat this morning, Mr Vella said it would not be prudent, in his role as European Commissioner on Environment, to declare his vote on this particular issue.

When it was pointed out to him that other public figures had already expressed themselves on the matter, Mr Vella said he was no longer representing a Maltese entity but a European one so his situation was different.

Mr Vella is in Malta for talks during which he will be outlining the Commission's work programme and priorities and also hold technical talks.

He started off his visit by meeting Mr Brincat and Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes at Casa Leoni in St Venera .

Mr Brincat spoke about the planning authority split which he said should be completed by summer. He added that in the new set up climate change would be part of the remit of the Environment and Resources Authority. However, this would require more staff to both at ministerial and also at authority level, he said.

The Environment Minister said that the government was also working on a strategic plan for green jobs.

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