Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
EU first warned Malta on bird traps in 2009
Brussels had been warning Malta over the continuation of trapping of birds with nets – considered to be against the Birds Directive - for at least two years before taking formal legal action.
The statement was made by European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik at the European Parliament in reply to a question by Labour MEP John Attard Montalto.
Dr Attard Montalto charged that Malta was being singled-out onthis issue.
Mr Potocnik ignored insinuations that legal action taken by Brussels contributed to “unexplained deaths” among the Maltese hunting community.
Admitting that the Commission took a long time to address the matter and only started infringement procedures against the island last summer, he argued that such “silence”, as Dr Attard Montalto put it, was simply prudence exercised before resorting to a “measure of last resort”.
“Infringement procedures are normally used by the Commission as a last resort, that is, when other tools, including compliance promotion activities, have been exhausted and have failed to deliver satisfactory results,” Mr Potocnik told Dr Attard Montalto.
“In the context of the present case, in 2009, the Commission expressed concerns over the practice of trapping derogations applied by the Maltese government and compliance with the conditions under the EU’s Birds Directive.
The Commission is of the view that Malta was given sufficient time to undertake the necessary changes to ensure full compliance with the relevant EU obligations,” he argued. He rejected accusations that Malta was being singled out with regard to hunting and trapping, an issue that has also been raised in various occasions by the hunters’ federation (FKNK).
Mr Potocnik referred to the legal action the Commission was planning to institute against a number of member states over trapping.
“The Commission is in the process of addressing trapping derogations in various member states where available information indicates that the derogation being applied may not be fully compliant with the requirements of the Birds Directive,” he said.
He warned that member states would face similar legal action as Malta if they did not justify their derogation.
According to EU rules, trapping had to be completely outlawed in Malta by the end of 2008 following a five-year transition period in which the Commission granted the island “special conditions” to continue to allow trapping of certain wild birds, on a limited scale.
However, in 2008, the government decided to apply a derogation allowing the trapping of four bird species (turtle dove, quail, golden plover and song thrush).
Following various warnings, the Commission last June started infringement procedures arguing that Malta’s derogations were not justified.
In view of this action, the government this year is allowing limited trapping and applied only for a derogation on song thrushes as it is arguing that, so far, this was the only derogation that could be justified according to the scientific evidence supplied by Ornis.
Despite the latest legal action, Mr Potocnik told Dr Attard Montalto, who was appointed FKNK’s honorary president last year, that the Commission was still keeping the door open to further technical discussions with the Maltese authorities.
“While the Commission reserves the right to continue the infringement proceedings against the Maltese government it will remain available, if so requested, to engage in further technical discussions with the authorities,” he said.
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joseph lia
Dec 11th 2011, 09:39
Well said MMV, the fact of the matter is that the whole scenario was high jacked by the antis therefore pushing their own agenda, that of total abolition. Proof has it that limited and controlled trapping may be allowed under strict supervision, a fact clearly demonstrated last spring for the turtle dove and quail shoot.
A clean slate and a balanced forum should take place involving all concerned in the issue and justice will prevail.
Marcel Mejlaq Vella
Dec 10th 2011, 18:28
While the Commission reserves the right to continue the infringement proceedings against the Maltese government, why didn't the Commission tell all the Maltese hunters before Malta joined the EU about all the campaign full of lies that was designed to betray all Maltese hunters. That was what the Commission should have done in the first place, and in the second place it should turn on the Maltese government of that time and tell him to shoulder responsibility for what he did. What does the Commission expect, that first you promise one thing and then do another. Also the Commission should know that the Maltese hunters are still paying the full annual license and tax for something that is always on the hang, meaning that for what they are paying as before, they are not even getting half of what they used to be entitled for.
I take the opportunity to warn all Maltese people, hunters and non-hunters to excerise caution whilst in their home garden because since trapping was banned, gardens are now full of migrating birds that before used to be trapped. These are seen all year round, in large numbers, breeding there, as Birdlife used to tell us and presently tells us. These birds are in such a big number that in a short time they willbe considered as pests. I don't know who still believes these lies Birdlife are reverting to. Clever people ask themselves, how come other migrating song birds that before were not trapped, declined in migrating population as well and they never breed in our gardens. Birdlife should know, as they are pretending that they don't know that migrating patterns function in an annual cycle, and as God created it, when their time come for them to migrate to and from our islands, they just migrate and not stay and breed in our gardens. These are all lies, big lies and facts that by nature, can never happen
joseph lia
Dec 10th 2011, 15:53
This anti-trapping stale news comes as no surprise.
The FKNK had informed the general public that the “EU first warned Malta on bird traps in 2009” by means of a Press Conference on 21st November 2011.
The European Commissioner’s Parliamentary Question reply is a ‘copy-paste’ from a letter the same Commissioner sent to the FKNK on the 25th September 2011, which letter was also quoted in said Press Conference.
However this report is a twisted interpretation of the written facts.
Whilst confirming that other countries DO apply derogations to permit trapping, Mr. Potocnik DID NOT refer to any legal action that the Commission was planning to institute against a number of Member States over trapping, but that such action would be taken against those countries that apply derogations INCORRECTLY.
Another false statement is that “According to EU rules, trapping had to be completely outlawed in Malta by the end of 2008..”. The facts are that live-finch trapping had to be suspended by the end of 2008 pending Studies which had to be undertaken by the Malta Ornis Committee which would determine how many finches could eventually be caught from the wild to sustain genetic-diversity in captive kept finches. NOTHING was negotiated or agreed upon with reference to birds that could also be legally shot and killed, as in the case of the scenario at present.
The reporter is also not correct when he writes that “..in 2008, the government decided to apply a derogation allowing the trapping of four bird species (turtle dove, quail, golden plover and song thrush).” The government had in fact applied such a derogation every autumn since Malta’s EU Membership in 2004 and ever since up to 2010. The problem was that on the seven consecutive occasions the derogation was applied in an incorrect manner (in conjunction with four years – 2004 to 2007 – of the application of other incorrect derogations to permit spring hunting and trapping). THE APPLICATION OF 11 INCORRECT DEROGATIONS WITH REGARDS TO HUNTING & TRAPPING!!!
An FKNK Press Release is in the pipeline also regarding this Parliamentary reply given on 1st December 2011.
Joe Lia
FKNK Council Member
Live-bird Capturing Affairs
joseph lia
Dec 10th 2011, 14:42
“The Commission is in the process of addressing trapping derogations in various member states where available information indicates that the derogation being applied may not be fully compliant with the requirements of the Birds Directive,” he said
I see, so trapping derogations ARE being applied in 'various member states', Thank you Commissioner Potocnik, the responsibility lies in the PROPER application of such derogations! That's what the EU is asking NOT that limited trapping is not allowed, as repeatedly and wrongfully stated ad nausea by the antis.
Mr Joseph Micallef
Dec 10th 2011, 13:17
If Malta is fined who is going to pay? It shoud be the P.M. from his fat salary. After all he is the one who allowed trapping this year in order to obtain votes in the coming election.
C Cassar
Dec 10th 2011, 14:50
Basically, those who trap /hunt will burden those who don't (the vast majority) in Malta with a huge financial penalty. The fine should be passed onto those who trap/hunt via huge hikes in taxes on the equipment they use. The result will either be:
a) the money is clawed back for the general tax payer
b) they stop buying their equpment and hunting/trapping ceases very quickly for good
Both are very positive outcomes, a win/win situation for the educated Maltese citizen.
Carmel Cilia
Dec 10th 2011, 16:31
It is always the same, I do not want one irregular immigrant here but I have to pay from my taxes as much as those few who do want them here. In this case the former prime minister assured the hunting and trapping community that not only would their hobby not be restricted but it would be better off. With these tricks the P.N. succeeded in getting Malta into the E.U To say the least it was treacherous. Another Terrinaria.
Hugh Jampton
Dec 10th 2011, 18:16
Mr Joseph Micallef If i break the law by speeding and I get caught I have to pay the fine. Why should I expect anyone else to chip in? Therefore those that continue to break the law by bird trapping should shoulder their own responsibilities surely?
Perhaps the organisation known as FKNK should start a fund for its members by its members..Joe public will not think to kindly of them when the amount of the fine is announced.
Johnny Xerri
Dec 11th 2011, 20:17
Mr Hugh Jampton,
I belive that if we are to be fair we should make the trappers and hunters pay...I as a hunter would be willing to pay...
...just one small condition...that my payment is equal to he amount I am allowed to charge for my stolen YES vote in the EU referendum...
Then we are all happy...we pay the fine and enjoy our hobby...and the YES people pay us for our help in the YES vote and enjoy their EU
Joe Xuereb
Dec 10th 2011, 12:20
What the EU says is neither here nor there. As always, it seems that addictions are passed on from father to son (girls have their own addictions, no doubt, but.....trappings never cease. Let us make Catholic Malta a country worth living in; let us make our own rules. Then, if and when things go bird shape, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.
I wonder if this mania for trapping helpless creatures is nothing but a metaphor for people living on a tiny island? And yes, I know men in large countries trap birds too. But that is the whole point; even living in a vast country, a trapper believes not in the dictum, no man is an island. So, same difference. Big or small, trapped!
These birds that are trapped, are they sold or are they stewed? In which case trapping is a large cottage industry.
The area around the Temples near the South coast, and elsewhere, must be made safe for ramblers and tourists and other decent people who, like this one, prefer to enjoy Malta's heritage in blessed peace. Is that too much to ask? And never mind the EU, a goose that's being chased in circles, and for no reason at all.
And no, I do not think the EU is singling out Malta. I think that measure for measure, trapping in a vast country and trapping in Malta have different impacts. That is all. Is this so difficult to understand? Maybe the EU is trying (and failing?) to save Malta from itself. Just a thought.
Mr. Potocnik knows full well that this issue, like many others in Malta, is a political issue (ie votes. Considering that a figure of seventeen thousand hunters, etc. in miniscule Malta, has been bandied about. Hard to believe, but hey! this is Malta). So when the kids are unruly, and their leaders spineless, with their hands tied behind their backs - and tellingly, even their spiritual leaders, too, who would be reluctant to further alienate their dwindling flock, Big Brother has to show a bit more muscle. That is all. C'est tout, as we say in gay Paree.
I am not at all surprised that Dr. John Attard Montalto is an MP.
francis Buhagiar
Dec 10th 2011, 11:42
Mr. Attard Montalto should tell his beloved friends in brussel that Malta is an EU. member thanks to the promises it made through Prodi and \vanhoigen that traping and Hunting is going to continue. When Edie was sending writen statments regarding trapping and hunting no one from Brussel have denied it. Mr Attard Montalto if you want to deal with those persons you have to have the stamina Mintof had.
Mark Shaw
Dec 10th 2011, 11:01
Sounds like "something" is coming home to roost..do the trappers want to get their nets out for this one as well?.. will be interesting to see what the fallout is and who gets the blame!
Carmel Grima
Dec 10th 2011, 10:58
Qed inxomm li Dr. Attard Montaldo qed jillobbja biex jerga jaghamel comeback fil-politika lokali; ma nafx forsi se jerga johrog ghall-politika bhal ma sa jaghamel il-Profs Scicluna. F'dak il-kas se jkollu zewg tir-rjus tajba il-PL u se jigbed hafna floating voters. Pero, u pero kbira, jekk se johorgu ghal politika lokali u wara li jigbdu hafna, jaghazlu s-siggu ta' Brussels, dawn ikunu qarqu bil-votant lokali u ma jisthaqilhomx jissejjhu professjonisti. jien nixtieq jghidu minn qabel liema siggu se jaghazlu biex ikunu fair mal kostitwenzi taghahom.
Carmel Xuereb
Dec 10th 2011, 10:54
X'ghagla ghandu l-Gvern li jiddiskuti ma l-EU issa gejja l-elezzjoni (aktars Ottubru 2012) u nibdew nonsbu ghal-voti tan-nassaba billi nghidulhom li jekk nitilghu ahna tergew tibdew tonsbu ghax issa se naghmlu deroga ma l-EU u forsi jkun hemm xi fidil li jemminkom. Ara fejn tridu kemm thaffu ezempju car il-kuntratt u l-bini tal-power station ghax hemmhekk hemm il-miljuni x'jintredghu imma ghan-nassabab dawk bihom u minghajrhom xorta kontu tghidulna u issa gejjin bzonnhom ghax tafu li tinsabu minn taht hafna u hafna u kull wiehed jghodd.