EU Commission Directly Calls On Malta To Cease Turtle Dove Hunting And Protect Marine Waters
The EU Commission has directly called on Malta to cease spring hunting of the vulnerable turtle dove and to take protecting marine waters seriously.
The calls were recently made in the key decisions of February’s infringements, with the commission threatening to pursue legal action against member states for failing to comply with EU laws.
On ceasing spring hunting of turtle doves, the EC sent an additional letter of formal notice to Malta, appealing to correctly apply the Birds Directive.
“The directive requires a general system of protection for wild birds and allows derogations only subject to strict conditions. The European Green Deal and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aim for the EU to halt biodiversity loss by protecting and restoring nature,” it said.
It explained how on 8th April 2022, Malta decided to extend the spring hunting derogation to cover the turtle dove – a bird that is protected under EU law.
“This derogation fails to comply with the conditions laid down in the Birds Directive and goes against the ongoing conservation efforts of the Member States and the Commission.”
Malta has now been given two months to respond to the additional letter of formal notice, to address the shortcomings raised.
Reacting to the EC’s action, BirdLife Malta said that this only confirms what the organisation has been fighting for.
“This action announced by the EC once again proves BirdLife Malta right. Last November BirdLife Malta took the Government to Court to challenge the decision to open a spring hunting season on turtle dove in April 2022,” it said.
“In the court case, BirdLife Malta is requesting the Maltese Courts to declare this practice as illegal, in a bid to stop once and for all the spring hunting of Turtle-dove.”
Meanwhile, Malta was also called out to properly protect marine waters, along with Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, and, Lithuania, receiving another letter of formal notice.
“Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Member States were required to review and update their ‘monitoring programmes’ by 15 October 2020 and their ‘programmes of measures’ by 31 March 2022,” it said.
“The Member States concerned failed to submit reports on the review of their programmes of measures to the Commission by the required deadlines.”
“Bulgaria and Malta also failed to send reports on the review of their monitoring programmes,” it said.
“They now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.”
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