Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/484780
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 MARCH 2015 7 TIM DIACONO MALTA never negotiated a spring hunting derogation as part of its EU accession talks, MediaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan said. Addressing the press in front of a Yes campaign billboard in Pem- broke claiming that he had nego- tiatied the derogation with the EU, Balzan said that Malta had agreed to apply the EU Birds Di- rective and to phase out trapping by 2008. "That billboard's claim is a lie," Balzan, a Spring Hunting Out (SHout) spokesman said. "Malta has a right to derogate, as every EU member state does, but we had never negotiated it. "In 2003, Malta applied the spring hunting derogation and was instantly hit with charges by the European Court of Justice. "In 2009, the European Com- mission found Malta guilty of not applying the derogation properly. Since then, the hunters have mi- raculously started declaring lower catches." Balzan recounted how, in 2003, he was employed as a technical expert within the Environment Ministry on an annual salary of Lm6,000. "I was also a voluntary mem- ber of the campaign in favour of Malta's EU accession and I had be- lieved back then that Malta would someday abolish spring hunting as all other EU countries have," Bal- zan said. "I think we have matured as a population now, and many people agree that spring hunting should end." He said he won't take legal action against the Yes campaign for their "libellous" billboard, despite hav- ing been legally advised to do so. "I was expecting the Yes cam- paign to launch personal attacks, but it's all part of the game," Bal- zan said. "The No campaign is positive and optimistic, in favour of birds breeding in the spring- time and people enjoying the countryside." News personally negotiated the spring hunting derogation during Malta's EU accession talks. Balzan had ear- lier denounced this claim as a lie. "All EU countries have the right to derogate, and Malta had applied a spring hunting derogation after joining the EU," Balzan said. "The European Commisison instantly charged Malta, and in 2009 the Eu- ropean Court of Justice found the Maltese government guilty of not applying the derogation properly. The European Commission com- menced infringement procedures against Malta the following year, but unfortunately the European courts take long to hand down a decision." He pointed out that the European Commission had also launched in- fringement procedures against Mal- ta for reopening the finch trapping season last year. "Malta is the only European coun- try that permits the hunting of quail and turtledove in the spring," Balzan said. "The cardinal point though is that 43,000 Maltese people have signed a petition that called for a ref- erendum to end the hunting season." Bonello retorted that countries ap- ply derogations according to their specific circumstances, and that the UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands apply different hunting derogations. "Too few quail and turtledove fly over Malta during the autumn hunt- ing season, which is why the Eu- ropean Commission allowed us to derogate from the Birds Directive by hunting them in spring," he said. He also claimed that hunting il- legalities have decreased in recent years, that quail and turtledove start breeding in late May, and that non- hunters already have plenty of op- portunities to enjoy the countryside in spring when the hunting season is closed. Balzan criticised hunters for their frequent insults, threats and acts of vandalism, as well as for claim- ing that public land is in fact private property. He pointed out that the law allows ramblers to pass through pri- vate property but that the hunters do not allow them to do so. An MCAST student questioned why 16-year-olds have been given the right to vote in the upcoming local elections, but not in the spring hunt- ing referendum. While Balzan said that 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote, Bonello was coy, saying that the law is the law. "The law is what it is," he said. "For example, six-year-olds are allowed to hunt in the UK." candidates battle promises belvedere kiosk 'Malta never negotiated spring hunting derogation with EU' – Balzan SHout spokeswoman targeted in obscene graffiti Notice of meeting to be held in public e Malta Environment & Planning Authority will meet on ursday 26 th March 2015 at 14:00 hours at the MEPA boardroom, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana, to discuss the following: DETERMINATION OF IPPC APPLICATION: IPPC/03/06/E: Site at, MRA061, Marsa Industrial Estate, Marsa. Production of basic pharmaceutical products (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). DETERMINATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL APPLICATION: PA 2011/13: Site at, Windmill Cottage, Triq Annibale Preca, Lija. Part demolition of existing and construction of 4 semi detached villas. Subject to the maximum seating capacity, seats can be reser ved on request for the applicant and registered objectors. Remaining seating is lled on a rst come rst served basis. RESERVATIONS: 2290 2018 20 th March, 2015 www.mepa.org.mt countryside has shrunk' A rubble wall in the Ramla Bay valley was defaced by individuals supporting spring hunting, with obscene graffiti targeting SHout spokeswoman Moira Delia. Delia, a TV personality, is sup- porting the No camp and has de- clared herself against spring hunt- ing. The writing, scribbled over the rubble wall using white spray paint, pushes for a Yes vote in the 11 April referendum. Delia reacted to the graffiti in Gozo, saying that this was not the first time she had been subjected to similar personal attacks. "Ever since I became a spokesper- son for the SHout campaign I have been subjected to harassment and intimidation by the hunting com- munity," she said, recalling harass- ment through Facebook as well as being harassed in person aboard the catamaran while on a personal trip. "The graffiti in Gozo is the lat- est of a number of personal attacks with the aim of intimidation. Hunt- ers have always done this and this reminds us of the vandalised trees in Foresta 2000, attacks on bird watchers in Buskett and verbal abuse towards the Prime Minis- ter. Their aim to intimidate me has failed like it always has, but it serves as a wake-up call and a reminder of the intolerant people that they re- ally are. "I will remain a spokesperson for SHout because I believe birds should breed in spring and we should be able to enjoy the countryside. I ask everyone to join me and stand up to these bullies and vote No to spring hunting on April 11." of Bart's medical school in Gozo is a further step in this direction," she said. Alternattiva Demokratika candi- date Monique Agius, running for the Zebbug council, focused on the importance of transparency in local councils, and that party promises should be realistic. "In a community like Zebbug, where debt has risen to €1.3 million, we cannot make any far-fetched promises just to obtain more votes," she said. "AD will not engage in projects they can't afford," she said, adding that the party wanted to see a per- centage of existing tax revenues passed on to local councils' funds. Agius said AD's commitment to reaching the 2020 environmen- tal aims through initiatives like shared spaces, tree planting, bicy- cle racks and carpooling as well as car free centres. "Although not all of these aspects may seem directly linked to the re- mit of a local council, AD believes that they can make a difference in raising awareness and educat- ing the community about certain practices," she said. 'The No campaign is positive and optimistic, in favour of birds breeding in the springtime and people enjoying the countryside'