Stern warnings from the European Commission that the opening of another trapping season will land Malta in trouble have been ignored by the government.

Setting a national bag limit of more than 33,000 birds, the government announced through the Government Gazette that it will apply an exemption once again to the Birds Directive to allow trapping between Tuesday and the end of the year.

Trapping is not allowed in the EU, although member States may derogate from the law for justifiable reasons.

However, according to the European Commission, there is no justification for Malta to make use of any exception to allow trapping and has already referred the island to the European Court of Justice.

Last summer, Maltese European Commissioner for the Environment Karmenu Vella, whose portfolio includes the Birds Directive, warned the government against opening the trapping season.

However, the government announced the opening of another season regardless.

Maltese trappers, estimated to number some 5,000, will be allowed to trap seven species of finches, as well as song thrushes and golden plovers.

According to the government, those taking part in this year’ season will need a special licence costing €55.

Finch trapping was phased out in 2009 in line with Malta’s EU accession treaty.

However, it was reintroduced soon after Labour returned to power in 2013 as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Roderick Galdes had said there were loopholes in EU legislation.

The Commission rejected this assertion and is now expected to proceed with court action which could lead to trapping being outlawed for good or the imposition of a hefty fine.

In a statement, Birdlife condemned the government’s decision and called upon Commissioner Karmenu Vella to take immediate action and initiate interim measures to stop the Maltese government from opening the season.