Toothless EU succumbs to Malta’s continued procrastination
The following reports, in immediate proximity to one another in the Times of Malta on 19 September 2006, beggar belief. While
Malta continues to procrastinate about spring hunting derogations and the EU Commission gives them a breathing space, hunters
slaughter birds of prey and other migrants and describe police controls and enforcement as harassment.
HUNTERS SHOOT BIRDS ILLEGALLY WHILE COMPLAINING OF HARASSMENT
EU GIVES IN TO MALTESE PROCRASTINATION
This must stop now and the EU must take a much harder line. Write to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and tell him this:
MAIL TO STAVROS DIMAS
To: stavros.dimas@cec.eu.int
cc.: parlsec.opm@gov.mt
bcc.: info@proact-campaigns.net, info@birdlifemalta.org
Subject: THE BIRD SLAUGHTER MUST STOP - NOW!
To:
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas
cc. Prime Minister of Malta - Secretariat
Dear Commissioner Dimas,
The contents of two articles* published in the Times of Malta on the same day, 19 September 2006, call the effectiveness
of the European Commission in respect of implementation of the bird protection guidelines completely into question.
In the first it states that Maltese hunters, whilst complaining that they were being "harassed by the police"
, illegally shot at and injured or killed migrating birds of prey such as honey buzzards, marsh harriers, kestrels as well
as herons, spoonbills, bee-eaters, hoopoes and smaller birds such as swallows and even sparrows.
The second article states that having concluded earlier this year that Malta was not justified in using the derogation
for spring hunting of Quail and Turtle Doves and was consequently in breach of EU law, you have nonetheless granted Malta
a further two months within which to answer a European Commission warning on spring hunting after it missed a September 4
deadline.
The first sad story is not new to nature lovers, conservationists and tourists to Malta, who have repeatedly commented
on, and communicated with your department, on this continuing illegal and unnecessary carnage. It must now be clear to the
commission that the Maltese government will continue to deploy such delaying tactics in order to postpone the inevitable -
a ban on spring hunting and strict and effective controls on hunting at other times - for as long as possible.
For as long as this situation continues, you, the Commission, are just as much to blame for the death or injury to the
hundreds if not thousands of birds which continue to be shot illegally. I/we therefore demand that swift action is taken to
compel Malta to effectively enforce the bird protection guidelines and to make it clear that the derogation will, with immediate
effect, no longer be considered justifiable.
Trusting that you will give this matter a much higher degree of priority than in the past, I/we remain.
Yours faithfully,
(Please add name and address here)
References:
Illegal bird shooting: http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=237424
EU permits delay: http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/print_article.php?id=237353
|
