The official body tasked with recommending to the government whether to open this year's spring hunting season yesterday put off the decision in the light of the court case initiated by the European Commission against Malta on the matter.

No vote was taken but it was decided that the committee would not be ruling on whether the season should be opened before the European Court of Justice pronounces itself.

The European Commission filed an extraordinary application against Malta earlier this month calling on the EJC to bar the government from allowing the next spring season to open even before the main case against Malta is heard.

The government had been served with two written warnings by the Commission over this issue, a first formal notice in July 2006 and a reasoned opinion last October. The Environment Ministry had replied officially to both letters but did not specify that it would stop spring hunting arguing that, prior to accession, it had negotiated the right to apply a derogation that would allow hunting for turtle doves and quail.

Yesterday's decision would seem to fit in with the public appeal made by Birdlife Malta for the committee not to decide on this year's season, yet the conservation group took a cautions stand on the position taken by the committee.

It insisted that the government should shoulder the responsibility for deciding what to do, adding that it was time to announce an end to the practice "once and for all rather than shaming Malta at the European Court".

The hunters' federation PRO, Joe Perici Calascione, said the hunters respected the committee's position but would soon be taking a stand on the matter.

"At the back our minds we have the promises that had been made by the government before the last election, that we would be able to keep the spring hunting season on quail and turtle dove," he said.

Technically, the committee should make its recommendations some four weeks before the season starts, which is usually on March 25, he pointed out. The federation intended waiting, even to allow the time for the EJC to decide, and then take a stand according to the circumstances.

"We contend that the Commission does not have the evidence to win the case so we want to wait and see." However, the federation will be taking a stand before the election if it is decided not to open the season, he said.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com