Today, BirdLife International and The Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE) have signed a common statement stressing the need to respect the Decision of the European Court of Justice on spring hunting on Malta, which will be delivered tomorrow. The two organisations urge all parties involved to reconcile their differences for the benefit of biodiversity through the promotion of conservation.

“In advance of the ruling of the European Court of Justice in Case C-76/08 on spring hunting of Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in Malta, we the undersigned state that we will respect the ruling of the Court and we call upon all parties and individuals to do the same. Recognising that the situation around hunting in Malta has been characterised by strong controversy, we call upon all individuals to exercise restraint and to avoid any escalation.

We will continue to strongly condemn any acts of illegal hunting, and we underline the responsibility of the Maltese Government to adequately implement and enforce the law. We recognise that individual illegal acts are jeopardizing the conservation of biodiversity. We remain convinced that the EU Nature Directives provide sufficient possibilities to reconcile nature protection, sustainable hunting, bird-watching and other recreational activities and socio-cultural traditions, in line with the Guidance Document on Sustainable Hunting.”

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