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There must be NO exceptions granted to the hunting restrictions imposed by the EEC Birds and Habitats Directives.

Information received from Malta and Cyprus, both prospective new members of the European Union in 2004, suggest the EU negotiating teams are prepared to permit certain exceptions to the current restrictions on hunting in the Union. In particular spring shooting, when migrants are returning to the Central and Northern European breeding grounds, would be allowed. This could be disastrous for already endangered and fragile populations of certain species.
 
There is no justification for this other than to placate brutal but vociferous minorities.
 
The granting of exceptions, which would create a dangerous precedent for the rest of Europe, and spell and end to the effectiveness of the EEC directives, must be resisted.
 
In the first phase of this campaign you are urged to write to the responsible Commissioners and to your local Member of the European Parliament.
 
David Conlin
Proact International
 
in May 2002
 
A draft text is given below. Copy and paste this text in English or translate it into your own language. You are of course free to amend the text or compose your own. A link for an email direct to the responsible Comissioners is given below.
 
Click on the second link to find contact details for your MEP :

MAKE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE EU BIRDS DIRECTVE

 

To:

Commissioner Mrs Margot Wallstrom,

Commissioner M. Michel Barnier,

 

Dear Mrs Wallstrom,

Dear Monsieur Barnier,

(or _your MEP'S name here_ MEP) ,

 

It is very disturbing to hear from reliable sources that the EU team negotiating Malta's accession to the European Union is likely to agree, because of special local circumstances, to permit hunting of turtle doves and quail in spring in Malta.

 

This exception is unnecessary and unjustifiable and will create a very grave precedent for the European Union totally at odds with the Bird and Habitat directives [Council Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC]. It is unnecessary and unjustifiable because:

 

  1. There is no economic necessity for the shooting of wild birds on Malta.
  2. As has been demonstrated in the past Maltese hunters shoot indiscriminately at anything that flies; migrating birds, in particular large birds of prey, will continue to be vulnerable to the shooters at land and sea. The level of illegal hunting and trapping on the islands is extremely high and the enforcement agencies are unable to implement the law effectively.
  3. The natural balance of wildlife populations on Malta are already scarcely at the sustainable level.
  4. The main justification for the continuance of mass spring hunting is culture and tradition. This is indefensible for 3 reasons:

 

    1. Such outdated and barbaric customs are no part of the greater modern European culture to which Malta strives to belong.
    2. The hunters in Malta are in a minority. It would be wrong to allow them doubtful privileges detrimental to the environmental future of the majority of Malta's citizens.
    3. All hunters in Malta are male. The granting of such exceptions would discriminate against the female citizens of Malta  - who are the most outspoken in their condemnation of current hunting practices.

 

If Malta, and perhaps also Cyprus, are granted special hunting privileges other countries, particularly those with a present high level of illegal poaching and trapping, are likely to request similar exceptional treatment. This will be a grave blow to the spirit of the Bird and Habitat Directives agreed by all European states; and a severe threat to our already endangered populations of many bird species. We draw attention to the massacres currently occurring - during the 2002 autumn migration - through massive and unpoliced trapping and hunting of protected European species on both islands.

 

We urge you as our MEP to make every effort to ensure that birds, many of which are migrants heading for our country, are given proper protection. Some countries have now included the healthy state of bird life as an important indicator of the quality of life and the environment as a whole.  The regular massacres of our European bird life, particularly in Malta and other countries of the Mediterranean littoral, will have a negative effect on that quality index.

 

In this respect we appeal to you therefore to familiarise yourself with the state of the negotiations on the accession of the new prospective member states; to enquire about and oppose the granting of any exceptional treatment in conflict with the Bird and Habitat Directives; and urge other groupings, members and officials of the European Parliament and the European Union to do the same.

 

In the hope that this will contribute to a more secure future for Europe's dwindling flora and fauna resources, we remain,

 

Yours sincerely,

 

(Name and address)

 

 

 

 

© Proact 2002