Government regrets Brussels' stand over spring hunting

The government has expressed regret that in the spring hunting issue the European Commission was acting as though the subject was not even discussed during EU negotiations.

The government reiterated its position that it has acted in line with the understanding reached during Malta's accession talks.

The EU's executive has given Malta one month in which to reply to the Commission's charge that the island is breaching the EU Birds Directive.

Following the first warning letter last July, the European Commission sent a supplementary warning letter asking the authorities to justify why they had allowed the hunting of turtle dove and quail in spring.

The Commission also decided to widen its legal action which will now not only cover the permit granted in 2004, but also the subsequent permits in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

But the government downplayed the EU's tough talk, including that of Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, and said it will respond to the Commission's decisions once these have been communicated to it.

The government said it was aware that the Commission considers itself constrained by the decision of the European Court of Justice in case 344/03 (Commission vs Finland), the facts of which it said do not necessarily find a parallel in Malta's case. However, it recalled that the decision was delivered in December 2005, and that the Commission has initiated proceedings in relation to the derogation utilised by Malta for the period May 1 to 22 in 2004.

BirdLife Malta in the meantime pressed Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to take the opportunity offered by an upcoming EU delegation visit to announce the government's intention to retract its decision to allow spring hunting. Failure to do so could result in Malta being taken to the European Court of Justice much sooner than the government predicted, the organisation said.

BLM president Joseph Mangion said: "It is irresponsible for a government to steer the country towards certain failure. This last formal letter is a clear indication of the frustration in Brussels. It has also made it clear that by widening its legal action to cover four years of illegal hunting, it is preparing a strong case before the European Court of Justice."

There is no justification on legal or scientific grounds for the government's decision to appease the hunters for a fourth consecutive year since the country joined the EU, he added.

"The government's insistence on allowing spring hunting is clearly driven by a political agenda. The Maltese people and the European Commission are not prepared to tolerate this," Mr Mangion charged.

The Maltese government has applied derogations for hunting of two bird species - turtle dove and quail - on the basis that insufficient hunting opportunities existed at other times of the year.

In support of this, the government has supplied the Commission with figures for the number of birds shot in spring and autumn 2004.

The Commission had concluded that a satisfactory solution to spring hunting existed during the autumn, a less vulnerable period for birds, and that, therefore, no derogation from the Birds Directive was justifiable.

Environment Minister George Pullicino clarified a comment he made in an interview with The Times earlier this week. The government agreed with the Commission last year to draw up a scientific report to analyse the migration of birds and establish whether there is a justification for spring hunting.

Mr Pullicino said he had been "informed that during the last Ornis committee meeting the appointed expert came up with the methodology he believes would be best to draw up the scientific study.

"I know it was discussed and they should be giving their input as to whether they agree over the methodology to be used for this scientific report," the minister said.