Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party (AD) chairperson Harry Vassallo said that “the Nationalist government has once more disappointed the hopes of those who supported EU membership.”

Reacting to reports on the meeting between European Commission Officials and a Maltese delegation (which included representatives of the hunters’ lobby), Dr Vassallo said: “The government’s cynical defiance of EU law while banking on a delay until infringement proceedings develop into the impositions of fines by the EU Commission, is carefully timed to allow it to appear to champion hunters at least until the next election is over.

“This government still thinks that it is clever to govern by tricks, surprises, procedural booby traps and legalisms. At every turn its conduct of affairs with the EU has been to make last ditch resistance to everything which Maltese citizens aspired to in voting in favour of EU membership,” Dr Vassallo said.

Ralph Cassar, AD spokesperson on the Environment said that the hunters’ lobby is jubilant because its members have been deceived into thinking that they can postpone the final outcome indefinitely. Its leaders are participating in yet another performance of political gymnastics which serve the Nationalist Party far better than it serves hunters. The government is banking on the idea that it will take up to two years for it to be fined and that it can play the hunters’ hero in the meantime. However hunting in spring will definitely be banned as will bird trapping, Mr Cassar said.

“Alternattiva Demokratika has the merit of always having been honest on this issue and also with hunters. We will be honest now in demanding that any fines which may be due by Malta to the EU should be paid by the hunters’ lobby and not by any other taxpayer,” Ralph Cassar said.