Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/576901
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2015 6 News TIM DIACONO THE European Commission has not yet decided whether it should ask the EU courts to apply interim measures that would see finch trapping sus- pended in Malta. Earlier this week, the EC officially referred Malta to the European Court of Justice over its refusal to stop finch trapping, which is banned by the Birds Directive. However, with only 24 days to go until the finch trapping season is set to open, a spokesperson for environ- ment commissioner Karmenu Vella confirmed with MaltaToday that they have not yet taken any decision on temporary measures to stop the season. Moreover, an ECJ spokesperson said the Commission has not yet filed its case against Malta at the courts. "It usually takes at least six months between when the Commission an- nounces its intentions to charge a country in court and when it actually files its case." Malta banned trapping in 2009 as per its EU accession treaty, but it was re-introduced by the current Labour government following its 2013 elec- tion victory. Although the trapping of live mi- gratory birds is banned across the EU, member states may derogate from the law "if there is no satisfac- tory solution, and if the derogation is used judiciously, with small numbers and under strict supervision". The government and the hunting federation FKNK believe they have satisfied the necessary conditions to derogate from the ban, while FKNK president Joe Perici Calascione claims Malta's EU accession treaty did not commit itself to an entire ban, but one that is conditional on the setting- up of a captive breeding programme. Since such a programme was never successfully implemented, he argues that the treaty clause demanding a trapping ban is null and void. Trapping birds for fun 'not judicious' However, BirdLife conservation manager Nicholas Barbara said the FKNK had never supported the in- troduction of the captive breeding programme in the first place, and that it always insisted there was no alternative to traditional trapping. "Our main argument is that trap- ping birds for fun does not constitute a judicious application of the deroga- tion," Barbara says, who goes on to cast doubt on whether it is logistically possible for trapping to be strictly su- pervised. "Trappers have a seasonal bag limit of ten finches, but at the same time are allowed to operate four trapping sites," Barbara said. "One clap net can ensnare ten finches at one go, and over 8,000 trapping sites were regis- tered last year. Experience has shown us that it is virtually impossible to enforce, unless a police officer is de- ployed at every single trapping site." Problems also exist with regards selectivity – namely that trappers can easily use their clap nets to ensnare other birds not covered by the dero- gation. Indeed, Barbara argues that the illegal trapping of finches was widespread in autumn 2013, when a derogation was granted solely for the trapping of golden plover and song thrush. "Trappers used the derogation on golden plover and song thrush as a cover for the illegal hunting of finches," he said. "The next year, the government applied a derogation on finches." tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €120,000,000 120,000,000 in in Fixed Rate Malta Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option allotment option up up to to a maximum of a maximum of €60,000,000 60,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCKS _______ _______ (i) (i) 2% 2% Malta Government Stock Malta Government Stock (Fifth Issue) (Fifth Issue) Fungibility Fungibility Issue Issue maturing aturing in in 2020, 2020, and and _______ (ii) (ii) 2. 2.3% Malta % Malta Government Stock Government Stock (Second Issue (Second Issue) ) Fungibility Fungibility Issue Issue maturing in 2029 maturing in 2029, , or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be aggregate shall be €120,000,000 120,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 5 th th October, October, 2015 2015 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as The Treasury announces the issue of €120,000,000 Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option up to a maximum of €60,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF SALE OF STOCK STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Floriana, Malta Malta The The Price Price for for each each Stock Stock at at (i) and and (ii) (ii) above, above, offered offered for for subscription subscription by by members members of of the the public public shall shall be be established established on on Thursday Thursday 1 st st October October 2015 2015, based based indicatively indicatively on on the the prevailing prevailing secondary secondary market market prices, prices, and and shall shall be be announced announced through through a Press Press Release Release issued issued by by the the Department Department of of Information Information (DOI) (DOI). Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 5 th th October, October, 2015 2015 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as hereunder, hereunder, or or earlier earlier at at the the discretion discretion of of the the Accountant Accountant General General: •at at 5.00 00 p.m. on on Wednesday Wednesday 7 th th October, October, 2015 2015 for for applications applications by by any any single single and/or and/or joint joint applicants applicants which which in in the the aggregate aggregate do do not not exceed exceed €100 100,000 000 per per person, person, and and •at at 12 12.00 00 (noon) (noon) on on Monday Monday 12 12 th th October, October, 2015 2015 for for applications applications in in the the form form of of sealed sealed bids bids (auction) (auction). Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from, from, and and lodged lodged at, at, all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers on on the the indicated indicated dates dates. Application Application forms forms may may also also be be downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt with with effect effect from from Friday Friday 2 nd nd October, October, 2015 2015. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be transmitted transmitted by by fax fax on on 2596 2596 7210 7210 or or by by e- mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application forms forms or or deposited deposited in in the the Tender Tender Box Box at at the the Treasury's Treasury's premises premises in in Floriana Floriana. No decision yet on finch trapping suspension