Facts and statistics confirm that spring hunting is allowed by the EU and perfectly sustainable if controlled by the strict mechanisms in place through local and European legislation, the Yes campaign insisted today.

Kathleen Grima and Joe Perici Calascione told a meeting in Gozo that the Ornis Committee, different Maltese governments and the European Commission had accepted the fact that Malta had no satisfactory alternative to spring hunting in autumn.

The European Commission was informed, long before Malta’s membership in the EU, that Malta intended to apply derogation to permit the hunting of two species in spring.

The EU Common Position of  September 27, 2002, during the accession negotiations said that:

"The EU takes note of Malta’s statement that spring is the main hunting season, and that in order to be in line with Article 7 of accession, the hunting regulations will be amended. The EU is also taking note of Malta’s intention to limit spring hunting to the taking of two species by applying derogation under Article 9 of the Directive."

Dr Grima said that this was not a campaign just for hunters and the public would not be fooled in believing that the abrogative referendum was created for the sole purpose of abolishing hunting in spring. Mr Perici Calascione said the referendum was a dangerous initiative by Alternattiva Demokratika which had also attacked other recreational activities such as fireworks, Carnival and fishing.

He said persons from all walks of society were joining the ‘Yes’ Movement because they believed that Malta had every right to apply derogation like the rest of the other EU Member States. Moreover, they were doing so because they believed that no Maltese minority interest or recreational activity should be abusively so targeted.

In a reaction, the No camp said Malta never negotiated the opening of a Spring hunting season with the EU.

Mark Sultana said that in the accession treaty Malta promised to respect  the EU's laws on the protection of birds. 

The treaty never referred to a derogation for spring hunting. While the Birds Directive allowed Malta to claim a derogation, this did not mean that the derogation could be accepted.

Contrary to what the Yes camp claimed, spring hunting was not approved by the EU and a case instituted by the Commission was still pending.

In September 2009 the European Court of Justice found Malta guilty of permitting spring hunting.