(copied direct from a birdforum post)

BACKGROUND


Recent utterances from Brussels are causing concern among MEPs and those who have long campaigned for a complete stop to hunting and trapping of birds on Malta.

These suggest that the European Commission might to be toning down its stand on spring hunting in Malta and it has officially admitted that the government had discussed an exemption from a specific article of the Birds Directive during accession negotiations.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has stated publicly that the Commission takes note of the progress made by Malta in complying with the Birds Directive and mentioned the examples of recent changes in hunting regulations, increased sanctions, reinforced cooperation with the police and educational programmes. He added that the Commission was discussing with the Maltese authorities potential areas of cooperation to support better enforcement, such as possible EU assistance for training programmes aimed at enhanced enforcement efficiency.

The fact is that the Government of Malta is procrastinating, as so often in the past, and is playing to the hunters’ lobby which both main parties see as a safe source of votes. This is why the subject of derogation for spring shooting of Turtle Dove and Quail is once again being discussed.

This is not the strong line that we have been campaigning for over the past few years and not what many EU citizens (and many others worldwide) expected after Malta's accession to the EU.

We must resist any policy of appeasement and continue to lobby the EU to take a firm stance on implementation of European legislation.


WHAT CAN BE DONE?


We must again lobby the EU to show them that the matter still causes concern to large numbers of EU citizens, and others worldwide, and encourage them to officially observe, record and act on the excesses by Maltese hunters and the apathy, inaction or plain ineffectiveness of the Maltese authorities. We must not relent in our efforts until Malta is a bird hunting-free zone.

ACTION AND CAMPAIGN SITES



You can take all, or a combination, of the following actions to support the campaign to stop unnecessary migrant bird slaughter on Malta:


A draft text of an email / letter / fax to Commissioner Stavros Dimas is provided for your convenience on the Proact website. Mark and copy the text, click on the email link provided, paste the text into the mail, add the subject (use your own wording/imagination), sign and send. The online link is at:

PROACT MALTA SPRING CAMPAIGN 2006 -

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(E-mail/letter sending)

An online petition has also been prepared. This is easier to activate, shows the names of the campaigners participating, and I will ensure that it is delivered to Mr Dimas in printed form. Go to:

THE ONLINE MALTA PETITION -

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Thank you for taking the trouble to read this and, hopefully, for your support.