Paul Eccleston, The Telegraph 31 Jan 08;
Malta is to be taken to court over its failure to halt the annual Spring slaughter of migrating birds.
The European Commission has decided to take the Maltese government to the European Court of Justice over the Spring hunting and trapping of wild birds. Bird conservation groups welcomed the decision and said Malta should announce an immediate ban on hunting.
The Mediterranean island is an important staging point for birds as they migrate from Africa to Europe for the breeding season.
BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta said that ever since its accession to the EU in 2004 Malta had permitted hunting and trapping of European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) and Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), in direct contravention of the EU Birds Directive.
It had failed to change its own laws to comply with Community law which bans hunting during the Spring migration period.
"Unfortunately, the Maltese government has missed many opportunities in the past to solve this case and to avoid European wide embarrassment for the country," said Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife in Brussels. "Therefore we can only welcome the Commission's decision to take Malta to Court now."
"If the Maltese government opens another spring hunting season this year, BirdLife will urge the European Commission to ask the European Court of Justice for an immediate order." Kreiser concluded.
And Joseph Mangion, President of BirdLife Malta, said: "Both Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi and the Leader of the Opposition Dr Alfred Sant should declare now, that they will not open a spring hunting season again. The overwhelming majority of the Maltese people believe that the government needs to stop this European wide embarrassment for our country."
Alistair Gammell, director of the RSPB's international division, said: "We are delighted with this decision. Malta, which is regarded as having the worst bird protection reputation in Europe, has repeatedly refused to comply with European bird hunting and trapping laws.
"Last year I delivered a petition to the island from 115,000 RSPB members urging Malta to end its shame of illegal bird hunting and trapping.
"It is clear that many people across Europe are deeply frustrated with Malta's refusal to ensure greater protection for birds. This irritation is shared by the European Commission who we hope by getting the court to rule against Malta will finally exert strong pressure on the Maltese government to end these disgraceful practices."
The Commission started legal action against Malta in 2006 following a complaint from BirdLife and issued a final warning in the form of a Reasoned Opinion last October, urging the Maltese government to stop spring hunting once and for all. The Commission decided to press ahead with legal action after it failed to receive a satisfactory reply.
A recent study of ring recoveries in Malta, showed that birds originating from at least 36 European countries fly over Malta each year. It also showed that an estimated 100,000 birds are shot annually by hunters.
In May last year a storm erupted over hunting after approximately 100 protected Honey Buzzards were shot in the south of the island and the government was forced to abruptly close the spring hunting season.
