'Hunting mission' starts today

Hunters and trappers will have to be on their best behaviour over the next three days as a delegation from the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament arrives in Malta today to see how the EU Birds Directive is being adhered to in relation to migratory bird species.

European Parliament sources told The Times yesterday the delegation, headed by Petitions Committee chairman Marcin Libicki, will begin its investigations in Malta today and will leave on Friday.

During that time the MEPs are expected to carry out "surprise" visits to well-known hunting areas around the island.

The delegation will meet senior officials from the Environment Ministry and representatives of environmental NGOs who often complain to the committee about hunting on the island.

The visit is a result of a petition signed by almost 200,000 people from across Europe last February which called for the EU to halt spring hunting in Malta. The petition was organised by the Belgian ornithological society Bird Protection Belgium with the help of BirdLife International and its Maltese branch.

Malta is the only EU member state to permit hunting during spring as a result of a derogation under the Birds Directive. This derogation is subject to a Commission review every year.

A few days ago, the Commission said it did not feel that the derogation used by the Maltese government was justified according to Birds Directive rules and gave the authorities until June to present more facts to justify their position.

Hunting is not the only issue the MEPs will be looking into. Sources said the delegation will use its three-day visit to explain the way the committee works and what rights Maltese citizens have when presenting petitions.

Since Malta joined the EU, the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament has received a dozen petitions from Malta - many of which were not admissible as they didn't fall within the committee's remit. The delegation will be meeting all the Maltese petitioners individually to explain the procedures involved and to further hear their complaints.

Mr Libicki will also meet the Ombudsman, Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Said Pullicino, and members of Parliament and of the European Parliament.