Brussels expected to rap Cyprus over spring hunting

Brussels is expected to come down hard on Cyprus after the island's government allowed spring hunting to take place for two bird species over six days this month despite an EU ban.

Commission sources said yesterday that although the EU executive is still studying what is happening on the ground, it is seriously considering the initiation of urgent infringement procedures.

"The Commission thinks the Cypriot decision goes against EU rules and the situation is being monitored closely to assess how it should be tackled," the sources said.

"The recent decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to issue interim measures against Malta on the same issue is a clear precedent which should apply to all EU member states," the sources said.

Spring hunting has been banned here until a case issued by the Commission against Malta is concluded.

The Commission is officially being most cautious on how to comment on the Cypriot issue. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has not yet pronounced himself while his spokesman yesterday merely told The Times the Commission is following the issue. "The Commission is aware of the decision by the Cypriot authorities to grant a derogation permitting the hunting of two species (carrion crow and magpie) during six days in May.

"The Commission is assessing the situation in order to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of the Birds Directive."

Following a recent change in government, the Cypriot authorities announced they will be using a derogation according to article nine of the Birds Directive to allow spring hunting on carrion crow and magpie. Hunters were promised this during the electoral campaign.

According to the Cypriot government, this is being done only as a measure to control the population of crows which damage the agricultural sector.

However, environmental groups including BirdLife have accused the Cypriot government of giving in to the hunters' lobby by allowing a "backdoor permission" to shoot protected turtle doves.

BirdLife Cyprus executive manager Martin Hellicar said the Birds Directive prohibits the shooting of wild birds in spring to ensure they get a chance to breed and sustain their numbers. "There should be no shooting of any birds during this sensitive migration period," he insisted.

This is the second attempt by a Cypriot government to allow some form of spring hunting.

Last spring, Cyprus was reprimanded by the European Commission for allowing hunting for turtle doves for just 48 hours.

Following the start of infringement procedures, the Cypriot authorities had pledged not to open spring hunting of turtle doves again.

According to BirdLife, the Cypriot authorities are now trying to use a different tactic to try to appease hunters.