MEPs gun for hunting infringement proceedings against Malta

European parliamentarians from several political groups have urged the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Malta for allowing spring hunting of migratory birds.
A round table discussion on spring hunting in Malta, held on Thursday at the European Parliament in Brussels, ended with MEP Anja Hazekamp calling on the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Malta to stop the practice.
According to Ms Hazekamp, Malta's application of a derogation from the EU Birds Directive to allow for the the spring hunting of quail, did not meet the required conditions.
Along with MEPs Keith Taylor, Klaus Buchner (Greens), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD) and Stefan Eck (GUE/NGL), Ms Hazekamp also announced she would be calling for an EP plenary debate in May on spring hunting in Malta.
"There is concrete evidence that conditions required in the EU Birds Directive are not being fulfilled. Illegal hunting tools, such as electronic bird callers, are being used on a structural basis, and lots of protected birds are being gunned down illegally every hunting season.
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"The enforcement by...

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