In a statement, BirdLife Malta said that the new chairman of the committee Louis Cilia, “clearly stated that the decision to open spring hunting season was already taken by the government and all Ornis committee was asked to do was to recommend the Minister Pullicino the dates and conditions.”

Louis Cilia was appointed last week by the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino.

Upon receiving the agenda for Monday’s meeting BirdLife Malta expressed what it termed as “its outrage” at the fact that the only item up for discussion was “the decision on the conditions and the periods under which the derogation for hunting and trapping of Turtle dove and Quail during the Spring period is to be recommended to the Minister”.

BirdLife said it “warned the members of the Ornis committee that the agenda received made the government’s intentions obvious that they had already taken the decision to violate EU law for a fourth consecutive year by allowing hunting in spring in 2007.”

The organization further insisted that during the meeting the hunters insisted that a season for hunting on sea and trapping of finches should also be opened. “This request was turned down by the chairman, however their demand that it should be minuted and presented to the Minister was accepted,” continued BirdLife.  

The conservation organization stated that a fourth breach of EU law is likely to increase fines for non-compliance.