Hunters have accused the European Commission of viewing the European Court of Justice ruling on spring hunting with contempt because it does not conform entirely to its wishes. Therefore, the Commission was never going to agree on a fair deal for the hunters.
In a statement this morning, the Federation for Hunting & Conservation – Malta (FKNK) and St. Hubert’s Hunters – Malta (KSU), said the Commission seemed confused about Maltese spring-hunting.
On April 1, it correctly stated that Malta will have until November 2011 to justify the derogation through a detailed report, then on April 7 it was reported, once again correctly, that it was up to the Malta government to decide about applying a derogation, since the Commission at this stage cannot make any official comment, definitely not before the derogation is applied.
However, it was yesterday reported that it had already requested the government to send a detailed report not later than four weeks after the closure of the 2010 spring season.
“What is the public to believe?”
On April 1, the Commission was reported as prepared to take a position only after November 2011, as was the norm and proper procedure, the organisations said adding that it was now reported to have already taken a position by objecting to a three-week season, ruling it out as not “in line with last year’s European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgment” without giving reasons for that opinion.
The hunters’ representatives said seemed information about the Commission’s intentions and/or decisions derived only from newspaper reporters quoting unnamed sources.
“Is the Commission afraid to make its public pronouncements credible by issuing them officially under a specific name and signature, with specific dates?
“Judging by the Commission’s performance in public relations, the Maltese government should have a field day in court, should it ever come to that,” they said.
The organisations insisted that the ECJ decision should have put paid once and for all to the Commission’s efforts to prevent a Malta spring hunting season.
The Malta Ornis Committee (MOC) advised the government to derogate for a three-week period.
“The Federation for Hunting & Conservation and St Hubert’s Hunters will not settle for less. The Malta Labour Party has agreed and declared it would act on the Ornis Committee’s advice.”
The Commission reportedly disagreed and would take the government to the ECJ, and the court could impose fines.
The organisations asked:
“Within the European Union, therefore, is it not the legitimate right of all Maltese hunters to a satisfactory alternative hunting season being threatened by a vengefully intransigent EU Commission and an intimidated Maltese government?
“The bottom line is that justice will not be served unless the Maltese government shakes off its fear and makes a final decision.
“We would like to think that the government possesses a legalistic evaluation of the MOC’s recommendations, and that it has no intention of reneging on its responsibilities.
“We expect the government to do its duty, even in the face of an intransigent EU Commission contemptuous of the ECJ,” they said.
They insisted that backed by a historical judgment of the European Court of Justice, all Maltese hunters had a legal right to a satisfactory spring-hunting season.
“In our opinion, to cheat them of their legitimate rights and expectations at this stage is immoral of the EU Commission and especially of the Maltese government, committed to honour its written guarantees.
“We reiterate our firm resolve to keep exposing any planned deceit, and we will intensify our efforts,” they said.