EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said today that although the decision by the European Court to ban spring hunting in Malta applied only for this year, "we consider that it sets a clear precedent in relation to spring hunting in subsequent years also in other Member States.

Mr Dimas said the court's decision "emphasises the importance of protecting the common natural heritage of the EU in preventing the hunting of birds during this period."

Earlier today the Maltese government onfirmedthat spring hunting for quail and turtle dove will not be allowed this spring.

It was its only reaction to the European Court of Justice decision.

BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta in a statement today further to the one issued yesterday, welcomed the decision by the European Court of Justice to issue interim measures ordering Malta not to open the 2008 spring hunting season for Turtle Dove Streptopelia Turtur and Quail Coturnix coturnix.

"This Order implies that the Court sees urgent need to prevent irreversible damage to these migratory bird species, while a final ruling on this case is pending and not expected before 2009." BirdLife said.

"The Court stressed in paragraph 48 of its Order the importance of protecting the EU's common heritage and stated that "the interest of hunters does not appear to have a value superior thereto".

Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International welcomed the decision of the Court: "Although we regret it had to come this far - and Europe-wide embarrassment has been caused for Malta, we are confident that now government-authorised spring hunting has become a thing of the past in Malta. At the same time we hope that the Maltese government, police and all stakeholders will work together to clamp down on the still widely spread illegal hunting and trapping in the country."

The court case was instituted by the European Commission In January 2008, based on a complaint by BirdLife.

Joseph Mangion, President of BirdLife Malta commented: "We are pleased to see that the court has acknowledged the importance of protecting the common natural heritage of the European Union and its member states as overriding the individual interests of the Maltese hunters, who have the opportunity nonetheless to hunt these same birds in autumn. Malta has a special responsibility as it is the southernmost central Mediterranean country through which migratory birds first pass on their way to their European breeding grounds, and we should be setting an example rather than seeking exceptions."

Picture: Turtle Dove, by Denis Cachia.

(See full text of Court decision in separate story)