Spring hunting breaches EU directives

Mark Mifsud Bonnici, secretary of St Hubertus Hunters, says (The Sunday Times, June 3) that nothing can be further from the truth than Alternattiva Demokratika's claim that spring hunting in Malta breaches EU rules. He also tells us that "in Malta's circumstances, Government is applying a derogation for spring hunting for... specific valid reasons".

However, what Mr Mifsud Bonnici fails to understand is that the Maltese government cannot unilaterally apply a derogation which has never been given by the EU.

In the words of EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, "the main condition (for a derogation to be given) is that spring hunting becomes possible if no sufficient alternatives exist. Although the Maltese authorities invoke this as the reason for allowing spring hunting, we have found that there are sufficient alternatives in autumn, and so we have not been granted any derogation. This also means that Malta must come in line with EU rules and stop hunting in spring" (The Times, March 29).

AD says that spring hunting in Malta breaches EU rules. Mr Mifsud Bonnici says that "(Malta) is applying (a) derogation" which according to the EU Environment Commissioner, has never been given. Mr Mifsud Bonnici should note that there is a huge difference between applying "for" a derogation and applying a derogation. To apply a derogation, the derogation must be given in the first place.

In view of this, Government's insistence on maintaining the spring hunting season effectively means that the government is taking EU law into its own hands, and breaching EU rules just because it disagrees with them (not a good example to law-abiding citizens, I must add).

Now who is spreading untruths? Is it AD, which correctly says that Malta has not been given a derogation, or Mr Mifsud Bonnici who says that the government is applying a derogation which has never been given?

For more information on this issue visit www.animalrightsmalta.blogspot.com.