The environmental NGOs, Din L-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent (FAA), Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Nature Trust (Malta), and the Ramblers Association Malta, have said that they find the Government’s attitude regarding the EU issue on Spring hunting very worrying and irresponsible. The Authorities are simply wooing the minority and risk having the people shoulder more taxes to pay the fines imposed by the EU. Furthermore, through its actions, Government is simply portraying Malta as a hunters’ haven This could potentially put Malta’s reputation in a bad light, and hence result in negative impacts on the tourism sector and the economy, the NGOs said.
Malta is today an EU country. The Maltese electorate voted in favour of joining the EU to ensure a better way of life in various aspects, including the environment. The Birds Directive is one of the Directives which EU member states are obliged to observe, the NGOs said.
The six Environmental NGOs said that they also maintain that some MEPs are degrading themselves on this issue simply to please the hunters’ lobby group by trying to find excuses to go against the EU Birds Directive.
The NGOs went on to say that they contend that the two main political parties – PN and PL – are prioritising political interests over the national interest by accommodating the unjustified demands of the minority and ignoring the rest of the population. Political parties should unite on this issue and not take advantage of each other at the expense of risking tax payers’ money, especially in the current economic climate.
The NGOs concluded by saying that birds are a worldwide heritage and not the property of a few.