Pro-hunting lobby welcomes political leaders' 'consistency' with electoral mandate

The Yes camp welcomed declarations made by the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition in that they support Malta's application to derogate from a Birds Directive of the European Union.

Malta is currently the only European Union country to have a recreational spring hunting season and this is achieved by a derogation (exception) of the Birds Directive, which normally protects migratory birds from being hunted during this crucial stage of their life cycle. 

Hunters' chief Lino Farrugia recently told the media that abrogating a legal notice controlling spring hunting would not remove Malta's right to derogate from the EU's Birds Directive.

The Yes camp said that both Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil were "consistent with their political mandate and personal belief, at both National and European levels, agreed that they support Malta’s right to derogate and that this should not be abolished".

The 11 April referendum abrogates a legal framework allowing spring hunting. The political leaders, whilst declaring their position, insisting that the issue should not be politicised and chose to refrain from campaigning in the referendum.

“It is worth noting that both leaders have been Members of the European Parliament and therefore are familiar enough with the right of an EU Member State to apply derogation,” the campaign added.

The Yes camp said that Malta's derogation formed part of Malta’s negotiations' package with the EU and subsequent EU accession referendum.

“Malta's right to derogate for spring hunting was once again endorsed in the European Court of Justice judgement of 10 September 2009. The decision of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition is essentially based on the sustainability mechanism of the EU Birds Directive itself,” the campaign claimed.

On 10 September 2009, following the European Court of Justice's decision, the European Commission issued a statement saying that the Court confirmed that spring hunting in Malta was "in breach of EU law".