In a statement issued by the government this afternoon, it refered to an article in the Times of Malta today, entitled “Brussels warning on autumn trapping,”

The government said that “the article states that “trapping was meant to be completely outlawed in Malta by the end of 2008 following an almost five-year transition period in which the Commission granted ‘special conditions to allow the trapping of certain wild birds on a limited scale after EU accession,” the government stated that “this is incorrect.”

“Contrary to what is indicated in the article, the alleged infringement referred to is not related to the transitional period provided in the Accession Treaty concerning trapping of seven finch species,” the Government contiuned.

“The alleged infringement concerns four species of birds (turtle dove, quail, golden plover and song thrush) which were not amongst the seven species falling within the scope of the transitional perio referred to above.”

The government went on to say “in this regard, it is imperative to note that the application of a derogation for the trapping of the fou species in question is possible in line with Article 9 of the Birds Directive. The issue pertaining to this infringement procedure initiated by the Commission relates to the Commission’s investigation of the application of the conditions linked to the application of such derogation.”

“It is pertinent to note that the Government has already expressed its willingness to engage in technical discussions with the Commission on how best to preserve the objectives of the Birds Directive and the desirability of applying an autumn derogation for trapping of the species concerned in Malta,” the government concluded.

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