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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL 2014 9 News PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Hunters demand that Commission verify all petition signatures MATTHEW VELLA HUNTERS' federation FKNK has called on the Electoral Commission to verify all signatures on a petition calling for an abrogative referen- dum on the future of spring hunting in Malta. Malta derogates from an EU ban on spring hunting every year, but a coalition of environmental groups – the Coalition Against Spring Hunt- ing (CASH) – has collected close to 45,000 signatures on a petition for a referendum. They required at least 10% of the electorate's signatures to petition the government to hold a referen- dum. FKNK chief executive Lino Farru- gia is insisting that there is nothing stopping CASH from 'abusing the legal interests' of other minority groups, apart from depriving Malta of its right to derogate the EU's ban on spring hunting. He also claimed that the Electoral Commission "may not be verifying all signatories" but that it would on- ly be carrying out "random checks". "FKNK hopes this will not be the case, since the outcome of the abo- litionist referendum could have a devastating effect on the very lives of thousands of Maltese and Gozi- tan nationals and their families." 44,376 signatures have been sub- mitted to petition for an abrogative referendum on spring hunting, the Coalition Against Spring Hunting announced yesterday. The petitions, which have to be now validated by the Electoral Commission, should satisfy the 10% of registered voters on the electoral register. Of the signatures, 40,351 are al- ready registered on the electoral roll. The 10% threshold would be 33,418. The campaigners said that the shooting of eagles in October 2013 had boosted their campaign, which began in July. The Electoral Commission now has 15 days to verify the signatures and present a request to the Consti- tutional Court to request a referen- dum. In the forthcoming three months, objections can be filed in court. The first 10 signatories can file a reply to the objections and the court can then proceed with its judgement. If the court upholds the request for a referendum, it must be held within not less than three months and no longer than six months. This would be the first abrogative referendum Malta. If the referendum fails, another referendum on the same subject cannot be held before the lapse of two years. Opposing stances by Maltese MEPs increase dissatisfaction with EU JEROME CARUANA CILIA ON Monday, Reporter presenter Saviour Balzan hosted MEP can- didates Jonathan Shaw (PN) and Deborah Schembri, currently a Labour MP, to discuss the work of the European Parliament ahead of the elections to be held in May. Guests included Mosta local councillor Alex Muscat (PL) and NET television presenter Frank Psaila. "In Europe there is a sense of dissatisfaction and a general feel- ing that the European Parliament is not addressing the main con- cerns," Psaila, formerly a PN ex- ecutive member, said. He pointed out that after 10 years in the European Union, people feel that the European Parliament is at a distance and is not listening and reacting to their concerns. "A clear example is the petition call- ing for a referendum to abolish spring hunting in Malta. People feel that the European Union did not act satisfactorily in this regard and so they felt they had to take the initiative to abolish hunting themselves," Psaila said. Psaila also said that the six Mal- tese MEPs rarely agree on essen- tial national issues and that this was causing even more discord. On her part, Deborah Schembri disagreed with the campaign of Nationalist MEPs to curry sup- port inside the European Parlia- ment for a resolution condemning the Maltese sale of citizenship. "I agree that it's time to agree with each other and work together at a European level. We are a small number and cannot be fragmented in the European Parliament. We have to work together to ensure our country has a more European identity," Schembri said. Jonathan Shaw however pointed out how MEPs had to work on is- sues that struck the interests of their party at national level, the European group to which they be- long, and then on those interests as an MEP. Alex Muscat chipped in say- ing that two-thirds of European citizens do not believe that the European Parliament is listening effectively. "I believe that if there is no unity among the Maltese MEPs on national issues, our voice will weaken. On the other hand, if the six MEPs agree on important lo- cal disputes, we will automatically send a message to the European Parliament that it is not in sync with the people out there." Saviour Balzan asked whether Maltese MEPs had been effective enough and if their salary is justi- fied. Shaw said that he had answered the call by the Nationalist Party to run for MEP to present new can- didates. "Coming from the private sector, the salary was not the en- ticing incentive for me for becom- ing an MEP candidate. I want to utilise my experience and abilities I have in the business field, for the political realm," Shaw said. Muscat said that more people should be encouraged to vote be- cause the European elections were not considered important when compared to national elections. "Individuals might feel disillu- sioned because a personal problem is not being addressed and want to send a message. Others feel that the European Parliament is not being effective," Muscat said. Reporter is aired live every Mon- day at 6:55pm on TVM. The pro- gramme is repeated on TVM2 on Monday at 10:15pm MEP wants overseas trips to be mandatory for primary school children INCUMBENT Labour MEP Mar- lene Mizzi said she would be lob- bying for funds from EU educa- tion programmes in a bid to make overseas visits part of the nation- al curriculum for primary school children. Mizzi said this would be one of her re-election themes. "I believe that primary school children should be taken for an educational, age-appropriate and well-planned visit abroad as part of the national school cur- riculum. I believe that education goes beyond reading and writing. Our children should be exposed to other cultures, arts, languages and traditions. "Education is an investment in our children and exposing them to what exists beyond our shores expands the mind. Such visits, at an appropriate age before going to secondary schools, will whet the appetite for further learning," Mizzi said. The MEP said that not all par- ents could afford to take their children abroad. She said that funds from the current pro- grammes for EU education funds, such as Erasmus, Comenius, Le- onardo da Vinci and Grundtvig, could be utilised so that all the children of Malta and Gozo will have the opportunity to visit another country as part of their education. "Given that we live in an island, exposure to other cultures is of particular importance for the formation of ambitions and love of learning." YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt The Coalition Against Spring Hunting (pictured) has collected close to 45,000 signatures on a petition for a referendum

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