The Maltese government risks being taken to court by the European Commission if it opens the finch-trapping season, Environment EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella said today.

Mr Vella is in Malta on an official visit and part of his programme included a meeting with the Maltese Parliamentary Committee for European and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
Reportedly, the Maltese government will be receiving a ‘reasoned opinion’ from the European Commission, giving it two months to comply with the reasoned opinion, which comes eight months after the government received a formal complaint in October 2014 for opening the season.
If the Maltese government refuses to comply with the EU, the Commission could very well ask the Court of Justice to kick-start litigation procedures against Malta.
Mr Vella refused to say what position the Maltese government will be taking.
“That is up to the government,” he said. “As Commissioner, we have issued a warning and Malta risks being taken to court if it does not close the season,” he warned.
Mr Vella also said that the Maltese government should take the turtle dove’s new status into account before a derogation application is applied for the next spring hunting season since populations have fallen drastically.