AD want Brussels to stop bird trapping pending court action

Green Party Alternattiva Demokratika has strongly condemned a decision to open the trapping season in breach of EU directives and in the face of court action from the European Commission.

"It is unacceptable, to say the least, for government to reopen bird trapping for over 33,000 wild birds when this is illegal under EU law and goes counter to Malta's Accession Treaty,” animal welfare spokesperson Simon Galea said.

"To add insult to injury, the issue of infringements on trapping has already referred to the European Court of Justice by the EU Commission. Not only is the government ignoring both EU legislation and warnings, but it is showing no commitment towards nature protection by allowing such an unjustifiable practice to occur."

The trapping season was opened earlier this week for the trapping of seven species of finch, golden plover and song thrush, after Malta was taken to the European Court of Justice for derogating from the EU ban on trapping without any justification.

"AD is therefore calling upon Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella to take interim measures in order to stop this unsustainable practice once and for all. Finally AD calls upon both PL and PN to stop their rhetoric on sustainability, nature protection and environment and instead put their words to practice. We expect a government which acts in favour of nature protection and the PN in Opposition to make its position clear and stop sitting on the fence,” Galea said.