Outgoing EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik yesterday questioned whether the European Union should continue to cater to the traditional practices of a “small minority,” while delivering a keynote speech at a conference celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Birds Directive.
Without making specific reference to Malta, the Environment Commissioner said that unsustainable hunting and illegal killing and trapping are undeniable problems in “several regions in Europe.
“These activities undermine the rule of law and also undermine the provisions of the legislation which allow for derogations. It is already difficult to explain to the public why certain derogations are allowed.”
“If, on top of it, the public sees that illegal activities go on in parallel, even if they are carried out by a very small minority, they tarnish the image of hunters everywhere and call into question the effectiveness of our entire approach to nature conservation.”
Spring hunting is illegal under the Birds Directive, but Malta continues to apply a derogation allowing the ‘traditional’ spring hunt of turtle doves and quail.
Mr Potocnik said he personally receives letters and messages on a daily basis from citizens across Europe. They are alarmed by reports that such activities continue to take place, sometime in their own backyards.
“And sometimes in the name of tradition,” he added.
“Here is a question that merits some reflection. Is it easier to change the traditional practices of a small minority, or to try and convince the vast majority that such practices are acceptable, legally or otherwise?”
Mr Potocnik said it is vital to continue efforts to build trust between the hunting community and nature NGOs. He appealed to hunters and bird conservationists to work together, just as several Maltese hunters were arraigned in Court for assaulting birdwatchers in Buskett.
“After all, they share the same long-term goal of achieving health bird populations.”
He said dialogue needs to be strengthened between conservationists and hunters, particularly at the level of the Member States.
The autumn hunting season was suspended in Malta last Saturday after several protected species were shot. This led to violent protests a day later by hunters, who lashed out at bird conservations and the government.
Maltese Commissioner-designate Karmenu Vella is set to take over Mr Potocnik’s environment portfolio, as well as being responsible for fisheries and maritime affairs.
“It is crucial that the leaders of national or regional hunting organisations and bird
protection associations understand that it is in their interest to work together. Cooperation can start with the ones most willing to do so,” Mr Potocnik said.
He highlighted that in some cases where ecosystems are already heavily deteriorated, it may be necessary to limit or even stop hunting for a period of time, to allow the habitat to recuperate.
One of the tasks assigned to Commissioner-designate Karmenu Vella is a review of the Birds and Directives in order to assess the potential for merging them into a more modern piece of legislation.
Shortly after Mr Vella’s portfolio was announced, ten leading European environmental NGOs sent a letter to EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker expressing their concern.
The coalition of NGOs asked whether it was a good move to give the environment portfolio to a Commissioner from a country with “serious issues” on the subject matter.
“The inclusion in the mandate of orders to consider changing the EU Nature protection legislation, pre-empting the results of the ongoing fitness check, suggests a high level decision to weaken biodiversity protection in the EU.”
“This is even more troubling as the Environment portfolio is given to a Commissioner whose government is under intense international criticism for failing to implement EU bird conservation legislation, which the Commissioner will now be in position to amend,” the NGOs said in the letter.