MALTA MUST CONFORM TO AND IMPLEMENT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTIVES -
IN SPIRIT AND IN PRACTICE
By email
to:
EU Commissioner
for the Environment
Ms. Margot Wallström
EU Commissioner
for Enlargement
Herr Günter Verheugen
and copied
to:
Mr. Alfred E. Baldacchino
Chair 'Habitats' Committee Malta
Dr. Godwin CASSAR
Chair 'Ornis'
Committee Malta
Dear Commissioner Wallström,
Dear Commissioner Verheugen,
It is public
knowledge that Malta is making little effort to enforce the EU Bird and Habitat directives despite the fact that they will
accede to the Union in about 6 month's time. This is acknowledged in your latest "Comprehensive monitoring report on Malta's preparations for membership".
If you are
in any doubt of the realities on the ground we recommend that you read a sobering report of the slaughter of exhausted migrating
birds of prey less than 6 weeks ago at
< http://www.proact-campaigns.net/malta/id38.html >. A short perusal of the archives of the Maltese press, or research with Maltese conservation organisations, will more
than confirm that this bi-annual slaughter continues unabated as in previous decades.
Next year
is the 25th anniversary of the Bird and Habitat directives which many individuals, organisations, agencies and
governments fought to introduce and maintain. It would be a sad celebration of this important anniversary should be marked
by further wholesale killing of protected species in a member country.
We understand
that the EU is looking for ideas to properly mark this significant milestone. Well here is one. In addition to the many large
governmental conservation organisations and NGOs there are literally thousands of well qualified birders and ornithologists,
in clubs, societies and small voluntary organisations who care deeply about the future of our European birdlife. In terms
of other large scale prestige or projects, the cost of sponsoring the travel and accommodation costs of a 1-2 week bird observation
camp during the spring migration on Malta, coordinated
say by BirdLife Malta, would be minimal. An unbureaucratic application and funding
procedure could be set up with little organisational effort. We are sure that the impact, publicity and long term effects
would be well worth the effort. You might like to consider this proposal seriously.
In any event
we urge you to take urgent and effective action to persuade the Maltese authorities to fulfil their responsibilities in the
area of nature protection.
In the spirit
of promoting sustainable development and protecting the environment for present and future generations
we remain,
yours
sincerely,
(Name
and address)
