In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, four Maltese environmental NGOs called on the Government to end spring hunting without a referendum, after the European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, was reported as ordering an inquiry into Malta’s spring hunting derogation.

Thejoint statement said, “BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Helwa, Nature Trust and the Rambers’ Association of Malta welcome the growing debate about the desirability of abolishing spring bird hunting on the Maltese islands. However, we consider that it should not be necessary to compel the people to have to resort to a referendum to achieve this.

“When Malta joined the EU it agreed to abide by EU rules and regulations. One of these is the Birds’ Directive, which clearly prohibits spring hunting. The above named NGOs call therefore on the Hon. Prime Minister to stop asking for derogations and to bring spring hunting to an immediate end.”

BirdLife Malta’s Executive Director, Steve Micklewright, welcomed the news that Commissioner Potocnik will be “scrutinising” this year’s spring hunting derogation, saying, “The Maltese government has committed to a zero tolerance approach to illegal hunting. This inquiry will surely prove once and for all that spring hunting on Malta is illegal under EU law. We therefore urge the government to abolish it now to save further embarrassment for the country.”

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