The EU's 'second thoughts' (2)

Replying to the letter by Publio Danny Rosso, Simon Busuttil detailed all relevant information pertaining to the statement "Tibqa' l-kaċċa għall-għasafar fir-rebbiegħa" (Bird hunting in spring will remain), published prior to EU accession as part of MIC's information leaflet about the future of hunting and trapping.

What strikes me as strange is Dr Busuttil's reference to the double-checking with Malta's hunting negotiator Saviour Balzan prior to the publication of this leaflet: "Additionally, prior to publication, the MIC information was also counter-checked directly with the person who negotiated on hunting on Malta's behalf".

Dr Busuttil must surely be aware of Mr Balzan's statement in the Malta Today newspaper dated Wednesday, May 16, 2007 namely that, "had it not been for me (Saviour Balzan), we would not have reached the stage that hunting and trapping no longer takes place in spring".

Dr Busuttil should verify this statement and then explain to all hunters, deluded by MIC and the PN's promises of retaining spring hunting, the glaring contradiction. If Mr Balzan was stating the truth, we can only conclude that not only Dr Busuttil's MIC but also Eddie Fenech Adami's Nationalist government was taken for a ride by its own appointed "negotiator".

It now remains to be seen whether we are about to witness a second debacle at the hands of the government representative at the sittings of the European Court of Justice, assuming that his presence will be permitted!