The Italian government has banned bird trapping to avoid facing the European Court of Justice after receiving a second warning from the European Commission, a move that contrasts with the Maltese government’s route of confrontation.

On Wednesday, Italy outlawed all means of trapping birds, including the use of nets, effectively banning the practice after the country applied derogations (exemptions from EU law) in various regions for the trapping of thrushes. 

The Maltese Labour government has repeatedly referred to derogations applied by Italy to justify its decision to reintroduce finch trapping. The move immediately led to a warning by the EC, but the government chose the path of defiance and opened the season last year.

Malta has since received its second warning, and Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella has made it clear he will have no choice but to take Malta to court if the government does not abide by the Birds Directive, which bans trapping. When Malta joined the EU, it had negotiated a transitional period to phase out trapping by 2008.

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