Hunters suspect wrong application of derogations is being done on purpose

The Hunters' Federation said today that it suspects that the governemnt is wilfully incorrectly applying derogations on hunting and trapping.

Federation official Joe Perici Calascione told a press conference held outside the Auberge de Castille that last June the European Commission issued a formal notice of infringement procedures against Malta because the government had not replied to a letter the Commission sent in 2010.

On October 5, officials of the FKNK spoke to the Commission, which said it had warned the government that it was wrongfully applying the derogations from the Birds Directive but was ready to provide the necessary technical assistance, if required.

The FKNK had also offered its help, Dr Perici Calascioen said, to no avail.

All this, he said, pointed to the government incorrectly applying the derogations on purpose so that Malta could be taken to the European Court in a fresh attempt to stop hunting - also binding future administrations.

Four of the derogations, Dr Pelici Calascione said, were about spring hunting, and the rest were about trapping in the autumn on non-protected species.

Dr Perici Calascione said there were various technical issues of the derogations which were being wrongly applied with the central issue being the sort of information being given to the commission by the government in terms of the derogations.