The European Commission has been urged by Members of the European Parliament from several political groups, to open an infringement procedure against Malta for the spring hunt on migratory birds.

Yesterday, a round table discussion was held at the European Parliament in Brussels on spring hunting in Malta. It ended with MEP Anja Hazekamp calling on the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Malta to stop the practice of spring hunting.

According to Hazekamp, “the derogation from the EU Birds Directive, applied by Malta to enable spring hunting of quail, does not meet the required conditions.”

Hazekamp, along with MEPs Keith Taylor, Klaus Buchner (Greens), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD) and Stefan Eck (GUE/NGL), announced that she will be calling for an EP plenary debate in May on spring hunting in Malta.

Hazekamp pointed out that, “there is concrete evidence that conditions required in the EU Birds Directive are not being fulfilled.”

The MEP added that, “illegal hunting tools, such as electronic bird callers, are being used on a structural basis, and lots of protected birds are being gunned down illegally every hunting season.”

She stated that, “the enforcement by Maltese authorities is weak or lacking. Furthermore, this year’s spring hunting season for quail has been shifted to coincide with the migration of the Turtle Dove, which increases the risk of this endangered species being shot.”

“All this undermines the objectives of the EU Birds Directive. Europe must step in and protect our birds,” said Hazekamp.

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