https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1124 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:23:38 GMT 2026-04-18T23:23:38Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145717 Title: Feedback and analysis : House of Representatives (Malta) – 14th Legislature, Bill No. 169 – Advanced Medical Directives Act, 2026 [Government Gazette of Malta No. 21,603 – 13/03/2026] Abstract: A Bill entitled “Advanced Medical Directives Act, 2026” was tabled in Malta’s House of Representatives in March 2026. The report furnishes a brief analysis of the latter Bill, highlighting problems that may hamper the Bill were it adopted and listing recommendations so as to address those problems. This report was submitted, first to the Parliamentary Secretariat for Equality and Reforms on the 12th April 2026 and then to the Consideration of the Bills Committee on the 15th April 2026. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145717 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145621 Title: Spatial planning goals and values in selected national legal frameworks : a comparative study Authors: Nowak, Maciej J.; Baker, Matovu; Fast, Victoria; Fidélis, Teresa; Gagakuma, Desmond; Idiculla, Mathew; Levent, Tolga; Mitrea, Andrei; De Marchi Moyano, Bianca; Musumeci, Robert; Sharifi, Ayyoob; Tanku, Melaku; Dalla Torre, Julieta; Blaszke, Małgorzata Abstract: This article examines the legal foundations of spatial planning through a comparative analysis of twelve countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Japan, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, and Uganda. These countries were selected for their diverse geographic, political, and socio-economic contexts. Despite significant differences, the study finds a notable convergence in how planning goals and values are expressed in law. At the same time, it identifies recurring challenges in implementing these legal provisions, including weak enforcement, institutional fragmentation, and pressures from informal development and private interests. The findings point to a set of shared legal principles that underpin spatial planning across jurisdictions, offering a basis for reflecting on the potential for more universally applicable planning norms. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145621 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145562 Title: Responsabiltajiet legali fil-kuntest ta’ kostruzzjoni f’Malta Abstract: Dr Robert Musumeci janalizza r-responsabbiltajiet regolatorji u kriminali fil-qasam tal-kostruzzjoni f’Malta. Jiffoka fuq id-dispożizzjonijiet tal-Kodici Kriminali (Kap. 9) dwar il-ħsara involontarja (culpa) ikkawżata min-nuqqas ta’ ħsieb, traskuraġni jew nuqqas ta’ osservanza tar-regolamenti, kif ukoll ir-responsabbiltà kriminali ta’ korpi korporattivi (Kap. 249). Jiddeskrivi l-obbligi ta’ assigurazzjoni obbligatorja għas-siti ta’ kostruzzjoni (Kap. 623) u r-rekwiżiti tal-liċenzjar tal-kuntratturi. Attenzjoni speċjali tingħata għad-dmirijiet tas-saħħa u s-sigurtà taħt il-Kap. 646 fuq il-prinċipal, il-klijent, is-superviżur tal-proġett, il-kuntratturi u l-ħaddiema, b’riferiment għal riskji għoljin bħax-xogħol fl-għoli, l-iskavar u d-demolizzjoni. L-analiżi sservi biss biex tidentifika l-qafas normattiv rilevanti għall-inkjesti u ma tesprimi ebda ħtija jew responsabbiltà. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145562 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145441 Title: The right versus the duty to remain silent Abstract: We have seen lately that the 2020 amendments made to the Constitution of Malta to appoint the Chief Justice by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the House of the Representatives has failed miserably due to the intransigence of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Instead, both sides of the House are now advocating an anti-deadlock mechanism. This mechanism, when agreed to and whatever its provision, celebrates the defeat of the two parliamentary political parties strained effort to arrive at a conjoint decision in the public interest. Political immaturity indicates that these two leaders lack statesmanship as they cannot rise above partisan politics. Hence, they both agree on recourse to an anti-deadlock mechanism though the devil lies in the detail and surely not even on this mechanism it is guaranteed that will be agreement thereupon. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145441 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z