Agreement has been reached between Mediterranean countries, members of FACE (The Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation in the EU), whose representatives of the Southern European States have created this permanent group of Mediterranean hunters that will be called FACE Med, similarly to what has, for some time, already been done by the countries of the North of Europe (Nordic Hunters’ Coordination).

This new organ, that by definition will be a true working group specifically concentrating on the problems that are linked with Mediterranean game-management culture, will operate within FACE and will have its operative headquarters at the AECT, the European cultural association in the field of game management, active since 1995 and an associate member of the said Federation of European Hunters.

The founding members, including members of such a coordination – Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta and Cyprus – will convene at least twice a year apart from as many times as deemed necessary as dictated by problems that are required to be discussed and resolved.

It is relevant to underline how FACE Med fits perfectly into the more recent strategy of the Brussels Federation that had already re-designed its structure aiming for a regional approach to European hunting issues, sub-dividing the member countries into groups on the basis of their definite geographical area origins.

Representing Malta was Lino Farrugia, secretary of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK).

The new workgroup was immediately faced with issues of scientific research on migratory birds, collation of data based on game bag ARTEMIS, the European paper on Hunting and Biodiversity of the Council of Europe, the relationship with the European Parliamentary Intergroup “Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity and Rural Activities”, the more recent decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Communities linked to the application of the Birds Directive and the information and communication between delegations and also with the EU Commission.

The next meeting of FACE Med is scheduled for the month of July in Malta.