Updated: BirdLife reports government to European Commission

(Adds Secretariat's reaction) BirdLife Malta has sent an urgent communication to the European Commission concerning the government’s failure to make available information on this year’s spring hunting season. The government denied this was the case (see statement below). In a statement this morning, conservation manager Nicholas Barbara said that every year, BirdLife Malta reported to the European Commission its analysis of the spring hunting derogation in relation to the correct application of the Birds Directive. Such reports relied on data being made available from government authorities regarding the numbers of registered hunters, birds reported shot and enforcement efforts expended. This information was promised to BirdLife Malta through the Ornis Committee, it said adding that formal requests for information were also sent to the relevant government officers. The organisation was given the requested information from the Government Veterinary Division and the Armed Forces of Malta, but not from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Derogation Monitoring Board within the Parliamentary Secretariat in charge of hunting matters or the police. Mr Barbara said: “We have...