A six-point agreement between hunters and the Labour Party, published yesterday, speaks of the “correct” application of EU derogations on spring hunting and the trapping of songbirds.
However, the agreement, in the form of a signed statement circulated to all media, gave no detail as to how these derogations would be applied and what conditions would be attached to them.
The Labour Party and the hunters’ federation, FKNK, have held two years of “technical discussions” on the subject led by Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon, who is a hunter himself.
Although spring hunting is not permitted under EU directives, apart from exceptional cases, hunters in Malta won the right to have a controlled spring hunting season for quails and turtle doves at the European Court of Justice.
The court had said the number of quails and turtle doves that migrated over Malta in autumn was not adequate, allowing hunters to shoot in spring.
For the past three years the Government has opened a short spring hunting season, applying a derogation and justifying it every time with the European Commission.
The conditions introduced by the Government were quotas on the number of birds that could be shot, a special €50 licence fee and restricted time periods when hunting could take place.The Labour agreement did not delve into the finer details of how a spring hunting season would be controlled but it highlighted that a Labour government would remove the special spring hunting licence.
The derogation on “the traditional” trapping of songbirds would be applied “correctly”, according to the agreement, although it gave no details as to how this will be achieved within EU regulations.
The trapping of songbirds is a sticking point for trappers, who feel short- changed by the EU’s strict rules that ban traditional trapping.
Both parties to the agreement made it clear that the EU package “cannot and will not” be reopened. Anything contained in the agreement will be in conformity with EU directives, the statement read.
A Labour government would also introduce fixed dates for hunting seasons in autumn and spring. This would change the current scenario in which the dates of hunting seasons are only announced days before they open.
A consultation process would also take place to remove uncertainty and ambiguity from hunting laws and regulations, according to the agreement.
A Labour government would also give more clout to the Ornis Committee, a government-appointed technical group that gives advice on hunting issues.
The FKNK and bird conservation group Birdlife formed part of this committee – although Birdlife had withdrawn – along with several government appointees. Ornis has often been criticised as being a rubberstamp for decisions taken by the Government.
Labour and the FKNK underlined the importance of strict law enforcement, with hunters committed to helping the authorities achieve this aim.
On a different note was a proposal to engage the hunting community in a plan to “strengthen” the country’s biodiversity, although no explanation was provided about how this would be done.
Speaking about the agreement during a Broadcasting Authority press conference yesterday evening, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this was not an under-handed agreement.
“We had announced that we were having discussions with hunters and these are the conclusions reached after two years of technical talks,” he said.
Dr Muscat insisted the Labour Party had made it clear from the start that it was not willing to renegotiate with the EU on hunting.
“This would be technically unfeasible and not something we wanted.”
He said Labour had been clear with hunters and promised them only what could realistically be achieved.
It was a jibe at the pledge made by the PN, in the form of a personalised letter, to hunters before EU membership telling them their rights would be safeguarded.
“What you see is what you get,” Dr Muscat insisted.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com