11 comments so far.MEPs request meeting with Commissioner about spring hunting
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33 MEPs from 10 European Union Countries have added their names to a letter requesting an urgent meeting with European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, to discuss the spring hunting of birds on Malta, BirdLife Malta said today.
BLM said that “Malta is currently the only European Union country to have a recreational spring hunting season and this is achieved by a derogation (exception) of the Birds Directive, which normally protects migratory birds from being hunted during this crucial stage of their life cycle.”
It added, “such derogations have been applied in their current form on Malta since 2010 and the meeting is being requested because MEPs consider that the European Commission is not doing enough to stop Malta from breaking EU rules, by systematically failing to apply the derogation correctly.”
Steve Micklewright, Executive Director of BirdLife Malta said, “The birds that are targeted by Maltese hunters in spring are turtle dove and quail and there is growing evidence that these birds are in serious decline where they breed in mainland Europe. It is therefore significant that MEPs from the countries that are the final destination of the birds that fly over Malta have signed the letter to Mr Potocnik.”
BLM said, the derogation of the Birds Directive Malta uses to allow spring hunting has very strict conditions whose satisfaction must be demonstrated to the European Commission, but the MEPs state in the letter that, “…the Maltese government has sought to justify the derogation through inaccurate reports and unreliable and even fictional data.”
The letter argues that successive Maltese Governments have not been prepared to take the appropriate action at the national level to control spring hunting and so it is time for “urgent and direct intervention by the European Commission to ensure that the abuses of the Birds Directive that take place in Malta are dealt with.”
BLM said that the “Malta Government is expected to announce the dates of the 2014 spring hunting season in the next few days and it is likely that they will again allow about 10,000 hunters to shoot turtle dove and quail for three weeks.”
“After the removal of control measures and licence restrictions, the hunting season in 2013 was so out of control that the Government called in the army to assist the police.” Mr Micklewright added, “The MEPs that have signed the letter are united in their view that Malta can no longer allow the hunting of birds that are in serious decline and whose future is in jeopardy because of issues such as hunting in spring.”
MEPs from the following countries have signed the letter:
Belgium: Ivo Belet; Kathleen Van Brempt (2)
Denmark: Margrete Auken (1)
Finland: Sari Essayah; Satu Hassi (2)
Germany: Rebecca Harms; Elisabeth Jeggle; Jo Leinen (3)
Italy: Andrea Zanoni (1)
Luxembourg: Claude Turmes (1)
Netherlands: Bas Eickhout; Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (2)
Poland: Piotr Borys; Tadeusz Cymanski; Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg; Danuta Hübner; Sidonia Jedrzejewska ; Filip Kaczmarek; Bogdan K. Marcinkiewicz; Joanna Senyszyn; Joanna Skrzydlewska; Jacek Wladyslaw Wlosowicz; Tadeusz Zwiefka (11)
Spain: Raül Romeva I Rueda (Spain) (1)
United Kingdom: Catherine Bearder; Andrew Duff; Vicky Ford; Ashley Fox; Julie Girling; Jean Lambert; Linda McAvan; Charles Tannock; Marina Yannakoudakis (9).
Photo – The Turtle Dove: Photo by David Tipling / Nature Picture Library www.davidtipling.com / www.naturepl.com.
Good, but I doubt whether they will get anywhere. The hunting lobby have Maltese politicians wrapped around their little fingers. Still, we can believe in miracles.
Unfortunately for the ‘hunting lobby’ they are not and never will be in the majority and the sooner Joseph and Simon realise that and start acting on behalf of the people the better. Joseph would do well to remember that Gonzi was taken down because he failed to listen and act on the wishes of the majority.
How unfortunate that it seems the most vociferous in this never ending debacle now appear to be foreigners.
Having lived in Malta for 22 years and pay income tax here (on money on which tax has already been paid!), I feel I have a right to be vociferous!! The Maltese living in the UK certainly do the same thing! Yes, it is called freedom of speech, or is it only free when the person saying it agrees with you? This island relies heavily on tourism and foreigners and its about time you people accepted that. There are lots of people wrecking this island instead of looking after it – after all it is theirs – but sometimes it seems like foreigners care more!!
Not only foreigners but don’t even live here and think they have a say in everything, even whether a tunnel or bridge should be built.
Perhaps residents of Malta and Gozo should start commenting on Ireland, Canada and Australia!
Not sure about Ireland but Maltese certainly comment in Canada and Australia. After all there are enough of them living there and they do have a right to comment. It’s called freedom of expression.
Foreigners have a say Ray because it is our holidays that get ruined by being woken at the crack of dawn by shotgun fire. We have a say because we are the ones being threatened by men with shotguns when we try to explore your island. Don’t worry about it though as the way things are going you are going to have a lot less tourists in the future and then perhaps the hunters will gladly cover you loss in tourist revenue.
My comment was actually in response to the post by Justin about foreigners posting in general and the fact some feel they should comment on everything.
I am totally against the shooting fraternity in Malta & Gozo and would love to see the government ban it completely but I live here and have to put up with being woken by it or not being able to walk where I would like at certain times of the year.
As a tourist I would have a choice and if I did not like it I would go somewhere else, but I would not tell the locals what they should or should not do in there own country.
As a “foreigner” and Maltese resident I reserve the right to comment on whatever concerns me either locally or internationally!
I actually lived for many years in Malta and Gozo. What with Mintoff, shooting, yells, bells and smells, I gave up and left for a more civilised country. I find it unbelievable that Malta, now a member of the EU, still practices their barbaric customs. If the government and police are unable to control hunting and trapping then I would suggest withdrawing all gun licenses and prohibiting the importation of all arms and ammunition.
People that I come across intending to visit Malta receive a quick explanation and video of what is going on and most then rapidly change their minds about a visit. Those that don’t think again are simply not worth knowing.
Whilst I do not support hunting in any way I think it is worth noting that hunting of many types goes on throughout the EU and the rest of the world. Under many conditions is lawful, yes! even in the UK!! It is the criminal element that act in the way that brings hunting into dis-repute. It is that element that needs to be targeted and held to account. Until the law changes that is.
Otherwise it is a matter of opinion and preference.