Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540988
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt MOTOR LOANS SKIP TO THE GOOD PART All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. The term of the loan must not go beyond re rement age. Issued by Bank of Valle a p.l.c. 58, Triq San Żakkarija, Il-Belt Valle a VLT 1130. Bank of Valle a p.l.c. is regulated by the MFSA and licensed to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the Laws of Malta). bov.com/motorloans Your Future Ride Today CONTACT US European Commission confirms finch- trapping derogation is against EU law The European Commission has confirmed that Malta's finch-trapping derogation is not in line with European Un- ion law. The commission is reiterating that the country remains under scrutiny for failing to comply with a key ruling of the Euro- pean Court of Justice (ECJ). In a letter sent to BirdLife Malta Chief Executive Mark Sultana on 27 October 2025, the Commission clarified that Commissioner Jessika Roswall did not endorse Malta's "re- search derogation" for finch trapping during her meeting with Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri on 15 October. Instead, the commissioner requested further information on how the Maltese authorities intend to fully implement the ECJ judgment in case C-23/23. The Commission also con- firmed that its letter of formal notice sent to Malta in Febru- ary 2025 remains in effect, as it continues to assess the new derogation adopted by the Maltese government on 17 Oc- tober 2025. The letter, signed by Nico- la Notaro, Head of Unit at the Commission's Directo- rate-General for Environment, warned that if EU law is not re- spected, the Commission "may decide to take additional en- forcement steps such as refer- ring Malta back to the Court of Justice of the European Union" The reply to Sultana came after he reached out for clari- fication following comments made by a ministry spokes- person to the Times of Mal- ta. The spokesperson said EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall welcomed continued dialogue with the Maltese authorities, and said the commission was open to engagement in order to ensure full compliance with EU law. This year, 2,932 finch trap- ping sites and 1,641 sites for Golden Plovers and Song Thrushes have been author- ised, an increase of 177 sites compared to last year. The gov- ernment claims finch trapping is being permitted for scientific study, yet evidence from previ- ous years shows many trappers engage in this activity illegally, keeping the birds in cages in- stead of releasing them. In reaction to the letter, the NGO welcomed what it de- scribed as "clear confirmation" that the European Commission has not approved or endorsed the government's continued finch trapping under the guise of research. The NGO said the clarifica- tion exposes the government's attempt to "disguise an illegal practice" already condemned by the European Court of Jus- tice in its 19 September 2024 judgment. It noted that both last year and this year's "re- search seasons" have deepened Malta's non-compliance with EU nature protection laws— namely, the EU Birds Directive. "Malta's so-called research derogation is nothing but an excuse to continue the trap- ping of finches, which should have been stopped as declared by the Court in 2018," BirdLife Malta said in its statement. The group urged the Maltese government to end finch trap- ping altogether and abide by the ECJ's rulings, warning that continued defiance risks fur- ther legal action and sanctions from the EU.