Spring hunting issue set for hearing on May 7

The hotly-contested spring hunting issue has been appointed for hearing at the European Court of Justice on May 7, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The news comes days after the government said it would not open the spring hunting season for the second consecutive year.

"The ECJ has accepted the request made by the Maltese authorities and appointed an oral hearing to be held in Luxembourg on May 7," a spokesman for the ECJ said. During this session, the legal teams of the European Commission and Malta will argue their case in an open sitting in front of the ECJ and may also be requested to answer any further questions by the presiding judge.

This hearing is not an automatic part of the ECJ procedures and is only granted in 'serious' cases at the request of one of the parties involved in the case. The sitting follows the submission of voluminous legal arguments in writing by both Malta and the Commission.

Though the court case against Malta is entering its final stages, the ECJ is not expected to issue a final verdict on the day of the hearing. It may take weeks or even months for the issue to be decided. Legal action against Malta over the spring hunting issue was started last year following a series of EU warnings over the hunting of quails and turtle doves.

According to the Commission, spring hunting of these migratory birds takes place during their return from Africa to breeding grounds in Europe, before they have had a chance to reproduce, and is in breach of the EU's Birds directive.

The Commission had last year also applied for interim measures to apply for 2008 and 2009 to ensure that spring hunting does not take place before the court case is decided. Brussels warned the Maltese authorities it would refer the issue back to the ECJ if it allows the opening of hunting this spring while the court case is still pending.

In the meantime, the hunters' federation yesterday accused Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi of failing to exercise the powers of decision a determined leader is expected to have.

The federation said it was disappointed that the Prime Minister announced his decision to stop spring hunting again this year on a television programme when he could have addressed hunters through their representatives.

The FKNK said it had even offered to give up most of the autumn season in return for the socio-cultural tradition of spring hunting in a transmission to members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister, last Monday.