The Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs yesterday rejected claims by the European Green Party that Malta's justifications for retaining spring hunting are based on "speaking notes".

The ministry told The Times the report does refer to the "technical meetings between Malta and Commission officials during accession negotiations in 2002". However, the document does not say that such reference is used to justify the application of the derogation for spring hunting under article 9 of the Birds Directive.

"Other arguments were used to justify spring hunting and trapping, including the small numbers of quail and turtle dove captured in the Maltese islands," the ministry said. Regarding the delivery of the report, the ministry said that according to correspondence from the Commission's directorate general for the environment, the document had to be submitted by the end of September.

"Thus, it is totally incorrect to state that the report was sent to the Commission 'after a delay of four months and 17 days' as was stated by Alternattiva Demokratika EU spokesman Arnold Cassola," the ministry said.

Just days after the report was submitted to the EU, a Belgian Green MEP tabled questions challenging the legality of Malta's justifications.

The matter is likely to be raised today at a meeting in Brussels between Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.