Brussels condemns hunting decision

The European Commission yesterday criticised the government's decision to allow hunting this spring. A spokesman told The Times the Commission will now be stepping up its legal procedures against Malta.

"The European Commission has noted the decision made on Monday by the Maltese authorities and regrets that this step has been taken. The principle of permitting spring hunting is already subject to an infringement procedure started last June against the government.

"Spring hunting is not permitted under EU law if there is an existing alternative to it. We maintain that there is and thus Malta is breaching EU law. This will lead Malta to the European Court of Justice."

The Ornis committee has recommended to the Environment Minister that hunting of quail may be permitted between April 1 and May 10 and of turtle dove between April 10 and May 20. The government accepted the committee's go-ahead for the spring hunting and trapping seasons to open and will now be looking into the recommendations with regard to the dates. A decision is expected in the coming days.

In an unprecedented move last month, the European Commission called an information meeting in Brussels for all those concerned in the issue: The government, the hunters and the environmental lobby, in order to put the record straight. During the meeting, the Commission made it clear that spring hunting was not to be permitted any more.

The Commission had said that "following an assessment of the information provided by the Maltese authorities, including figures for the amount of birds shot in spring and autumn 2004, the Commission has concluded that a satisfactory solution to spring hunting existed during the autumn hunting season, a less vulnerable period of the birds' annual cycle, and, therefore, no derogation from the Birds Directive was justifiable.

"By permitting the hunting of birds in spring, Malta was therefore in breach of its obligations under the Birds Directive".

After the Brussels meeting, the Commission had told The Times it expected hunting not to take place this spring.