The Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting said today that it was confident is its position on the proposed referendum does not conflict with EU Treaty obligations.

In a statement is explained that one of the major objections of the hunting organisations was the claim that the referendum should not be allowed because it is an obligation of Malta to properly apply EU rules in national legislation.  It claims that the legislation that allows spring hunting, which a successful referendum would abolish, does just that.

Romina Tolu, campaign coordinator said, “The legal representatives of the hunting organisations have clearly tried to mislead by claiming that the legislation that allows spring hunting is some sort of EU obligation.  The legislation that transposes Malta’s EU obligations with respect to birds is a completely different piece of legislation: the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations.”

“The legislation that permits spring hunting and which a successful referendum will abolish, actually goes against EU rules, because hunting of birds on their spring migration is expressly forbidden by EU Directives.  It is highly disingenuous for the hunting lobby to attempt to confuse the Constitutional Court, in this manner.” 

The Coalition said it was looking forward to the Constitutional Court sitting which would hopefully lead to the date of the abrogative referendum.