Günter Verheugen

Commissioner for Enlargement

Rue de la Loi 200 / Wetstraat 200

B-1049 Brussels 

Belgium

9 December 2002

Dear Commissioner Verheugen,

Thank you for your response to one of our members concerning our campaign against the exceptions granted to Malta for spring hunting in the EU accession negotiations. It is refreshing to know that not all such negotiations are purely economic in nature, and we appreciate your attention and concern. Our concerns however are far from dispelled  by your reply.

You state that over the next seven years Maltese trappers will continue to trap the same species of small birds (seven species of finch) which fly around in our gardens at home and land on our feeders. These birds will be kept in small cages with little room to move, often poorly fed and watered, and sold on the market in Valetta and other towns. The rest of their life will be spent on balconies or indoors singing for the pleasure of their 'owners'. The song can be enjoyed, and would be heard more frequently, if these birds were left in their natural environment. As to the perversion of breeding captive strains of naturally occurring species to the same end after 2011, which is what you and the other European governments are agreeing to, I leave that to your consciences. Please reconsider your stance on this matter.

You confirm that in a derogation, to which all member states are entitled, the EU has clearly spelt out the "strict conditions" for the 'taking' of turtledove and quail. Turtle dove and quail are on the Red List in several European countries; why exactly should Malta be granted a derogation? Just because they ask for one? And what are the strict conditions? What concession is Malta obliged to give for such a derogation?

In addition you write:

"I assure you that the Commission will avail itself of all the means at its disposal in order to monitor closely Malta's respect of its commitments in this area."

Up to now, the Maltese government has proved incapable of monitoring its own hunting community. Visiting tourists and conservationists have witnessed this slaughter regularly at first hand. The hunters go about their bloody business openly , even arrogantly; and are abusive and threatening to those they perceive as opponents. Their bag - shot legally and illegally - includes large numbers of protected bird species -

across the whole countryside as well as in the few nature reserves.  How does the EU plan to combat the apathy of the local government and their patent lack of control resources? We herewith offer the services of our organisation, or alternatively its individual members as concerned and informed ornithologists, as part of an identifiable EU monitoring team during the migration windows on Malta. Because, as I inferred above, this is what it is all about.

As active European environmentalists, who have followed events on Malta over many years, we do not believe that the Maltese hunters will stop slaughtering migrating birds just because Malta is in the EU. Nor do we believe that the Maltese government has either the will or resources to ensure that this barbaric and illegal spectacle becomes a thing of the past. We had hoped, that by banning ALL hunting during spring migration, the EU would send a strong signal to Malta and other European states. Instead, we fear that exactly the opposite will occur and that other current and prospective member states will seek similar exceptions. This will inevitably lead to the watering down of the EU Bird and Habitat Directives. Terms that are often bandied about in EU committee circles such as 'small numbers' and 'sustainable exploitation' are disingenuous, dangerous and a sop to the vociferous hunting minority..

The state of our European environment, with its dwindling natural resources, cannot tolerate any further inroads. Hunting for sustenance or livelihood in our climes and society has long been a thing of the past. Hunting for sport or pleasure does not fit in with today's modern global ethic and is potentially disastrous for the survival of our planet as other than a cultivated or industrialised desert.

In the hope of a more positive reaction to our concerns for the conservation of our European environment, for us and our descendants' heritage, we remain,

Yours sincerely

David Conlin

Proact International

and the following members of the Proact Team representing