Following on from my Parliamentary Question on the subject of the illegal hunting of wild birds in Malta, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Commission has announced that it is sending its final warning to the Maltese authorities to order them to stop the illegal hunting of wild birds in spring in contravention of the EU Wild Birds Directive. Lax protection in Malta can undermine the efforts of the rest of Europe to protect migratory birds - a good example of where European legislation can do more than piecemeal national legislation.

Malta is located on an important bird migration route in the Mediterranean. The European Union’s Wild Birds Directive specifically protects birds during their perilous spring migration from Africa to their breeding grounds further north in Europe, including the UK.

Currently, laws in Malta allow the hunting of the birds during spring, but in issuing this warning, the Commission is asking Malta to bring its laws in line with the EU’s Wild Birds Directive. Commenting on the Commission’s action, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "By taking these measures the Commission is seeking to ensure that rules for the convention of bird species are followed throughout the EU to help prevent biodiversity loss."

The RSPB has urged the Maltese authorities to issue a declaration confirming the end of spring hunting. This would allow the European Commission to apply directly to the European Court of Justice for an immediate order blocking spring hunting for 2008 and beyond. Should Malta fail to respond to the Commission’s warning, the RSPB expects the Commission to take the Maltese authorities to the European Court immediately.

Hopefully this will be the end to the devastating spring hunts in Malta that threaten birdlife across Europe.