Hunters offer help in spring hunting case

The Federation of Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists (FKNK) has congratulated the Nationalist Party on its electoral victory and expressed hope the new Administration will tackle the serious problem being faced by hunters and trappers because of the "U-turn by the European Commission".

The federation said that although a special arrangement exists between the Commission and Malta over hunting in spring, Brussels had started legal proceedings against Malta at the European Court of Justice, asking for a ban on spring hunting, which is already restricted to turtle dove and quail. It said it was willing to offer assistance to the government on this issue if this were needed.

It would welcome conciliation meetings with the government in an effort to resolve the problem brought about by the European Commission when it unilaterally decided not to honour one of the 77 special arrangements that had been negotiated and agreed between Malta and the EU, the federation said.

Recently, the federation submitted a resolution to President Eddie Fenech Adami calling on him to intervene in the matter. It is also raising a petition calling on the EU Commission to halt its attempt to nullify the special arrangement on spring hunting.