The European Commission has issued a final warning to Malta, informing government that unless spring hunting is stopped, it will be taken to the European Courts of Justice and sued for breaching EU directives.

The warning was issued on Tuesday, as the second in a three stage infringement procedure, which the EU's Environment Commission launched in July 2006. Unless Malta complies with the warning, the Commission will take the Maltese government to court.

The notice was warmly welcomed by environmentalists, with Birdlife International expressing their satisfaction that the Commission is now taking "firm action" against spring hunting in Malta. Contrarily, the Federation for Hunters, Trappers, and Conservation (FKNK) is insisting that spring hunting in Malta is not in breach of EU directives. The bird migration study currently underway in Malta will be used in the European Courts to prove this, says Lino Farrugia, the federation's President.

The European Commission explained that the hunting of quails and turtle doves in spring takes place when these migratory birds are returning from Africa towards their breeding grounds in Europe. "The impact on bird numbers is therefore more significant than it would be in autumn or winter, after the breeding season. The Commission believes that alternative solutions to spring hunting exist, in this case the possibility to hunt the two species in autumn."

But the hunters are confident they can prove that the possibility to hunt these birds in autumn is not an alternative to spring hunting, and thus the EU should allow spring hunting in Malta. "The final warning against Malta is just part of the EU's infringement procedure" Farrugia explains, "we insist that there is no real alternative to spring hunting, and that is why we are currently compiling data on bird migration over Malta. With this data we will prove to the EU courts that autumn is not an alternative to spring hunting."

But Birdlife International and Birdlife Malta, the organisations who first complained to the European Commission on spring hunting, argue that government should now give in to the final warning and obey the EU directives. "Allowing another spring hunting season in 2008 despite clear warning from the Commission, would not only mean that the Maltese government does not want to fulfil its obligations as an EU member but would also be a slap in the face of its citizens who are overwhelmingly against spring hunting" says Tolga Temuge, the chief executive officer of Birdlife Malta, "moreover, every open spring hunting season has been used as a cover by many Maltese hunters to shoot protected species, many of which are threatened with global extinction, such as the Lesser Kestrel, Saker Falcon, Pallid Harrier and others."

Birdlife International also urged the Commission "to be tough on this case". The organisation welcomed the statement made by the Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, earlier this week. On his blog, he said that "Malta will be taken to the Court if spring hunting isn't stopped."

BirdLife fears if the Commission is not firm enough here other countries could follow Malta's example and the EU's credibility could be seriously undermined.