S.L. 549.62 Art. 1Citation and scope.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Marine Policy

Framework Regulations.

(2) The scope of these regulations is to establish a framework within which Malta shall take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain good environmental status in the marine environment by the year 2020 at the latest and to transpose the provisions of Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, as amended by Commission Directive 2017/845/EU of 17 May 2017 amending Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the indicative lists of elements to be taken into account for the preparation of marine strategies.

(3) These regulations shall contribute to coherence between, and aim to ensure the integration of environmental concerns into the different policies, agreements and legislative measures which have an impact on the marine environment.

(4) These regulations shall apply to all marine waters as defined in regulation 2(1) and shall take account of the transboundary effects on the quality of the marine environment of third States in the same marine region or subregion as defined in regulation 5.

(5) These regulations shall not apply to activities the sole purpose of which is defence or national security. Effort shall be made however to ensure that such activities are conducted in a manner that is compatible, so far as reasonable and practicable, with the objectives of these regulations.