EU Affairs
Hunting to be discussed in European Parliament
By MaltaMedia News
Dec 4, 2006, 12:10

Hunting in Malta will be put on the agenda of a plenary session for discussion in the presence of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The issue will be discussed on request of the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament.

The chairman of the committee, Marcin Libicki had penned a critical report on Maltese hunting after visiting the island in May. Speaking to The Times he said that procedural rules allow the committee to ask for a debate at plenary on a specific item. Mr. Libicki added that the request for a debate was made the committee noticed that no progress has been achieved so far with regards to in Maltese hunting.

“If things remain the same we will then move on to order an own initiative report which will go into the details of the problems and instigate more pressure onto the Commission to stop spring hunting," added Mr. Libicki.

Mr. Libicki also said his committee would be also insisting on the ban of bird trapping by end of 2007.

Hunting has been a hot issue in Malta in the recent weeks. A police memo instructing officers to temporarily refrain from pressing charges against hunters on certain breaches of the law in October was heavily criticized. The memo has since been withdrawn.

In turn, the Federation for Hunting and Conservation has said that it will hold street protests unless hunting regulations are changed because stipulated of the Birds Directive issued in March 2006.

See also:

Hunters and trappers to hold street protests
By MaltaMedia News
Nov 27, 2006, 11:43 CET

EU opens second hunting complaint file on Malta
By MaltaMedia News
Nov 18, 2006, 12:01 CET

Police instructed against charging hunters
By MaltaMedia News
Oct 6, 2006, 10:45 CET

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