Former Labour minister turned EU Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella is in direct conflict with the same government that, after making him Commissioner, has ignored his repeated calls to put an end to finch trapping, bluntly saying that Malta’s finch trapping season is “in breach of EU law”.
Contacted by The Malta Independent on Sunday, Mr Vella, said the Commission had taken note of the Maltese government’s decision to open the finch trapping season between 20 October and 31 December.
Mr Vella has repeatedly warned Malta that it risked being taken to the European Court of Justice,
A legal notice published on Friday announced that this year’s finch trapping season will open. This announcement was made regardless of the fact that a string of warnings was issued by the European Union and despite the fact Malta has been referred to the EU Court of Justice.
In comments to this newsroom, Mr Vella said: “Our position remains that such practice is in breach of EU law that is in place to protect Europe’s birds and habitats, hence the College of Commissioners’ decision to refer Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union over finch trapping.
“The Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, remains fully committed to ensuring that the Maltese legislative framework on trapping derogations strictly respects Union law.”
Earlier this month, 89 members of the European Parliament called on him to take urgent action against the Maltese government for breaking EU laws by allowing trapping and spring hunting.
32,200 bird limit for every species
The limit has been set at 33,200 birds with limits established for every species.
Trappers need to apply for a special licence which costs €55.
Bird trapping in the EU is illegal although member states can apply for a derogation. The European Commission, however, has warned that Malta’s derogation is not justified.
The Commission referred this year’s case to the European Court of Justice.
Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, the FKNK’s Lino Farrugia explained that the case referred to the EU Court of Justice regards last year’s derogation. He stated that FKNK is sticking to its arguments in line with the government, that the derogation applied this year was applied “correctly”.
BirdLife Malta (BLM), which is also a member of the Ornis Committee, told this newsroom yesterday that when the trapping of finches was not allowed, trappers were still targeting finches illegally on the pretext that they were trapping Golden Plovers and Song Thrush.
BLM said that the decision taken by Ornis to trap Golden Plovers and Song Thrush was taken in April despite the two warnings made by the Commission while the decision to trap finches was taken a month later, in May. Regarding the trapping of finches, the Commission has referred Malta to the EU Court of Justice.
In an official statement released later in the day yesterday, BirdLife Malta said that Mr Vella has no option but to initiate interim measures against the Maltese government, calling on the Commissioner to act to safeguard migrating wild birds.
It said it is very disappointed at the government’s decision and insistence of opening another trapping season when the European Court of Justice will soon be deliberating over Malta’s disobedience.
BLM said the government’s defiance is an indication of the lack of understanding as to why migrating birds should be protected, and of its political commitment to respect the treaty signed by Malta when it became an EU member state. The treaty explicitly banned bird trapping after 2008.
“Our main concern is that many wild birds are going to be caught and taken from nature for no justifiable reason other than a recreational need. This is a considerable impact on wildlife and that is the reason why bird trapping is illegal under such directives. We hereby call on the government not to open the trapping season to safeguard and protect migrating birds.”