‘Spring hunting referendum not in conflict with EU’

The Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting has reaffirmed its position that the proposed referendum does not conflict with EU Treaty obligations, as it waits for the Constitutional Court to announce the date when it will consider submissions in open court  on the objections to the referendum to abolish spring hunting, from the hunting community.

One of the major objections of the hunting organisations has been a claim that the referendum should not be allowed because it is an obligation of Malta to properly apply EU rules in national legislation.

It claims that the legislation that allows spring hunting, which a successful referendum would abolish, does just that.

Romina Tolu, CASH campaign coordinator said: “The legal representatives of the hunting organisations have clearly tried to mislead by claiming that the legislation that allows spring hunting is some sort of EU obligation. The legislation that transposes Malta’s EU obligations with respect to birds is a completely different piece of legislation: the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulation.”

The legislation that actually permits spring hunting in Malta is an exception to EU rules and therefore not a treaty obligation.  “The legislation that permits spring hunting and which a successful referendum will abolish, actually goes against EU rules, because hunting of birds on their spring migration is expressly forbidden by EU Directives.  It is highly disingenuous for the hunting lobby to attempt to confuse the Constitutional Court, in this manner,” Tolu said.