A Labour government would not renegotiate hunting and trapping regulations with the EU but will insist that the Maltese are treated like their European counterparts, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said last night.

"Illegal hunting will remain illegal but we are members of the EU and have to operate within the parameters of the EU. Our position on hunting and trapping is simple: We want Maltese hunters and trappers to be treated like those in other European states, such as France," he said.

Dr Muscat, who was participating in television programme Affari Taghna on One TV, said that where derogations were possible, his government will apply them.
Turning to immigration, Dr Muscat said that Labour will be tough with the decision makers in Brussels to ensure that those regulations which did not apply to Malta and not applied.

"We have to see the human face of immigration. We intend being strong in Brussels. But i can assure you there will be no space for xenophobia and racism."

With regard to public transport, Dr Muscat said a Labour government would open discussions with providers Arriva on what could be improved in the present system and rope in local councils on improvements they would like to see in their localities.

"The problem is not Arriva but the people who were behind the choice of routes," he said, in an obvious reference to Transport Minister Austin Gatt and his righthand man, Manuel Delia.

The programme was about Labour electoral programme unveiled on Wednesday. Participants included actor Adrian Buckle, lawyer Ramona Frendo, former Siggiewi Nationalist mayor Robert Musumeci and radio presenter and lecturer Andrew Azzopardi, who all praised Labour's electoral programme, saying it was ambitious and detailed.

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