The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) yesterday presented a resolution passed during a hunter’s meeting on Sunday appealing to the President’s honour and integrity to ensure that the derogation on spring hunting is respected.

In a resolution approved at a mass rally in Rabat, the hunters and trappers stated that Dr Eddie Fenech Adami was Prime Minister in 2003, when he signed Malta’s Accession Treaty with the European Union. This treaty included 77 special arrangements on several issues, including one on spring hunting.

It went on to say that he should intervene now because the special arrangement on hunting and trapping is not being respected by the EU. Furthermore, the resolution pointed out, the European Commission has even initiated legal proceedings against Malta at the European Courts of Justice.

The federation’s secretary Lino Farrugia, accompanied by president Joe Buttigieg, presented the petition to Dr Fenech Adami’s private secretary Pierre Cauchi.

Since their first meeting held in Gozo on Saturday, FKNK have also been urging their members, families and friends to sign a petition appealing to the EU Commission to withdraw its attempt to nullify this special arrangement.

Although Mr Farrugia could not state how many people have signed the petition so far, he referred to the 3,000-strong petition BirdLife Malta presented to the European Commission and stated that they had already surpassed that number.

Mr Farrugia referred to a letter sent to thousands of families by Dr Fenech Adami in March 2003 promising that spring hunting and trapping will remain untouched.

“This treaty was accepted by all member states – it is a serious matter,” said the secretary.

He went on to say that spring hunting was one of 77 special arrangements and if the one on spring hunting is breached then there is the possibility that divorce and abortion are introduced.

Speaking about the ongoing case before the European Court of Justice, Mr Farrugia said that the case is based on misinformation and should not have been initiated in the first place.