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September 26, 2002
Malta
Maltese bird hunters and bird trappers must not be given concessions on Europe-wide bird protection laws as a 'sweetener' to aid Malta's entry to the European Union, says the RSPB. The Society has today launched a campaign to urge its members to write to the Minister for Europe, Peter Hain MP, asking the UK government not to cave in to political pressure from Malta and Europe.
From material issued to the press by the Maltese government, the RSPB believes that a 'behind-the-scenes' deal between the European Commission and the Maltese government could allow the island's bird hunters and trappers to continue plundering nine species of bird, which migrate northwards through the island in spring en route to breeding sites in elsewhere in Europe. The birds most at risk include quail and turtle dove and seven species of finch, especially goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch and linnet.
The RSPB's international director, Alistair Gammell, said: "It is outrageous that the European Union and the Maltese government should be attempting to broker a deal that would undermine the future of bird protection in Europe. Any concession given to Malta, however 'limited', will risk becoming permanent. Worse still, other countries in southern Europe may use this as a precedent to return to the mass killing of migratory birds the Birds Directive was designed to halt.
"We are urging the UK government to stand firm on this issue and not compromise laws that other European countries have successfully abided by for more than 20 years.
"In its submission to the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Maltese government recognises that the hunting and trapping of birds on the island is not sustainable: yet despite this, and just weeks after the summit, Europe's governments are apparently prepared to endorse these practices. We demand Europe proves its commitment to sustainable development by requiring Malta to end these practices and comply with laws on bird protection rather than trying to flout them."
Before Malta is entitled to join the European Union its government has to transpose all of the existing European directives into Maltese legislation. The Birds Directive, which governs the protection of birds across the existing 15 members of the EU, was first introduced in 1979. Malta is seeking an exemption to continue the traditional hunting of quail and turtle dove and the trapping of seven species of finch, most of which are also familiar birds in the UK.
Graham Wynne, the RSPB's chief executive, has written to Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe, and to Margot Wallstrom, the European Commission for the Environment, urging the UK government and the European Union not to overturn Europe's bird protection laws.
The RSPB's members and concerned members of the public are being urged to write to: Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH.
For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:
Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
Out of hours, please telephone: 07702 196902
There are also webpages at www.rspb.org.uk/caffairs/malta with details of how to get involved.
Posted by Surfbirds at September 26, 2002 11:18 PM
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