PN Leader Simon Busuttil said today that a PN government would respect the outcome of the EU Courts decision in the finch trapping case between the EU Commission and Malta.

Dr Busuttil had previously announced that a PN-led government would not remove spring hunting.

In September 2015, the European Commission announced that they will be taking Malta to the European Court of Justice for allowing finch trapping, against EU law

Trapping of all birds is prohibited by EU and when Malta joined the EU in 2004, a ban on finch trapping was one of the conditions of the accession treaty.

The government agreed to gradually phase out trapping for finches over a five year period. However, in 2014 the practice was reintroduced under the Labour Government.

The Maltese government holds that the country currently enjoys a derogation through the EU Birds directive for trapping using traditional selective claps.

Dr Busuttil, who was speaking at an activity in Ta' Xbiex, was also pressed by the media on the Ornis Committee’s decision to recommend the opening of the finch-trapping season in October 2017, in spite of the legal proceedings.

The PN Leader claimed that this was just another attempt from Joseph Muscat to buy votes.

“Hunters and trappers need to understand that this will only hurt our case with the EU courts. He is only trying to buy votes. It will  only be at the detriment of your hobby.”

Dr Busuttil also faced questions concerning John Dalli, who featured in a New York Times article which alleged that the AG and Maltese Authorties are failing to comply with OLAF and the FBI in a fraud case conerning Dalli.

He said that he would see that the insitutions are strengthened to deal with cases such as these, but maintained that he would not intervene directly.

On whether or not he would request the AG's resignation, he said that this would have to be decided by a two thirds majority in Parliament, but stressed that AG would have to answer some urgent questions.