Birdlife has called on the European Commission to apply an “interim measure” to prevent finch trapping from taking place. 

In a statement, conservation manager Nicholas Barbara said this would force the government to suspend finch trapping until an upcoming case is heard before the European Court of Justice.

Earlier today Times of Malta quoted government sources saying the Commission would be opening legal proceedings against Malta after the government refused to back down on a decision to reintroduce outlawed August trapping.

Birdlife welcomed the news and applauded the Commission "for not hesitating to intervene in the breach of EU laws”.

A spokesman for Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said no official notification had been received informing it of the legal action. The sources meanwhile said this was expected to arrive in the coming days.

The spokesman added that the government had not yet decided whether or not the season would actually be opened.

The reintroduction of bird trapping was announced by the government last year after it was phased out and banned in 2009 as part of the EU accession agreement.

The Commission sent Malta a final warning (letter of reasoned opinion) in May, urging it not to reopen the season.

However, since the government did not commit to end trapping, arguing that it was entitled to allow the practice, the next step is for Malta to argue its case in the EU’s Court of Justice.

Trapping of finches is prohibited by EU law, with some member states applying a derogation to maintain the practice in small numbers.

The decision to reopen the contentious trapping season was based on recommendations given by the government’s consultative body, the Ornis Committee. It is set to reopen on October 20.