European parliamentarians from several political groups have urged the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Malta for allowing spring hunting of migratory birds.

A round table discussion on spring hunting in Malta, held on Thursday at the European Parliament in Brussels, ended with MEP Anja Hazekamp calling on the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Malta to stop the practice.

According to Ms Hazekamp, Malta's application of a derogation from the EU Birds Directive to allow for the the spring hunting of quail, did not meet the required conditions.

Along with MEPs Keith Taylor, Klaus Buchner (Greens), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD) and Stefan Eck (GUE/NGL), Ms Hazekamp also announced she would be calling for an EP plenary debate in May on spring hunting in Malta.

“There is concrete evidence that conditions required in the EU Birds Directive are not being fulfilled. Illegal hunting tools, such as electronic bird callers, are being used on a structural basis, and lots of protected birds are being gunned down illegally every hunting season.

WATCH: Another spring hunting referendum is on the cards, BirdLife hints

“The enforcement by Maltese authorities is weak or lacking. Furthermore, this year's spring hunting season for quail has been shifted to coincide with the migration of the turtle dove, which increases the risk of this endangered species being shot. All this undermines the objectives of the EU Birds Directive. Europe must step in and protect our birds,” Ms Hazekamp said.

In another statement, the hunters’ federation criticised what they described as “unfair, deceitful and untrue criticism against the Maltese government, police and the Maltese in general with an emphasis on hunters and trappers” by Birdlife’s conservation manager Nicholas Barbara, who was part of the round table, Ms Hazekamp and BBC presenter Chris Packham, who was also taking part.