Against Spring Hunting

Europe takes action against Malta's spring shooting, from the BirdLife international website:

..During their exhausting return journey from Africa to their European breeding grounds, many migratory birds use Malta as an important resting place and stepping stone as they cross the Mediterranean. Despite special protection under EU law during this sensitive period, Maltese hunters are reported to kill—with the blessing of their government—thousands of quails and doves every spring.

This spring hunting season not only breaches EU law, but also opens a loophole for the illegal hunting of many other, often threatened, species such as herons and birds of prey. "BirdLife welcomes that the European Commission won’t tolerate this any longer and that it has committed itself to take legal action in case Malta does not end spring hunting," says Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy & Advocacy Officer at BirdLife in Brussels. "This decision follows earlier judgments of the European Court against other countries and sends a clear signal that there won’t be any special treatment for Malta."

The Maltese government will now have to ensure that no spring hunting takes place from 2007 onwards, otherwise it will be taken to the European Court of Justice..."The Maltese government made a poor case before the Commission because there is actually no excuse for the continuation of spring hunting in Malta. It is unfortunate that the consequences of this decision—ultimately a penalty could be imposed by the Court—will be borne by the Maltese public, when in fact the majority are in favour of a total ban on hunting...