A future Labour government will not openly defy the European Commission on any of Malta’s contractual obligations as EU members, but Labour will nonetheless fight any court case brought against Malta in the European Court of Justice, Michael Falzon told hunters on Monday.
The MLP deputy leader outlined his party’s strategy on hunting and trapping while addressing representatives of the hunters’ federation (FKNK) at a private meeting.
Although stopping short of specifying his party’s intention not to open the Spring hunting season if elected, the implications of Falzon’s message to hunters remain inescapable.
“We will abide by all the existing legal obligations, including those as laid down in the Birds Directive, and as a full member state of the European Union,” Falzon told some 500 hunters at a meeting organised by Labour MP Charles Buhagiar at Ray’s Auto Dealer in Zebbug.
Malta’s legal obligations under the Birds Directive include the immediate cessation of hunting in Spring.
“Should the EC institute legal proceedings against Malta before we are in government, we will continue to follow the case, with our aim being (obviously) that of winning. We will, however, abide by the decision of the European Court, whatever that may be.”
Falzon also hinted that hunters would not return to the “free-for-all” scenario they used to enjoy in years gone by, claiming that law enforcement will remain a priority for his party. However, he promised that bona fide hunters will not be “persecuted like criminals” under a Labour administration
“Enforcement of the relevant laws, both local and European, is important and will remain and if need be improved; and nobody can expect to break the law and get away with it,” Falzon warned.
“Hunters and trappers are to enjoy all civil rights apertaining to their fellow citizens in Malta, as well as to other hunters within the European Union. Any sense of ‘vindictiveness’ currently felt by hunters is not to remain.”
But Falzon also suggested that certain laws which do not fall within the parameters of the Birds Directive may be revisited. “In so far as those legal restrictions which go beyond our legal obligations as a member of the European Union, we are disposed to revisit some, also in the light of our geographic realities,” Falzon said, although he would not be drawn into specifying which regulations will be altered.
It is unclear how the hunters present for the meeting reacted to this somewhat mixed message regarding the future of their “delizzju”. However, individual comments subsequently posted on the FKNK’s public web forum suggest that Falzon’s proposals did not unduly ruffle their feathers.
“It emerged that a Labour government will not be vindictive with hunters, like ‘Gonzinu’s government’ (sic) is doing,” commented a certain “Spartacus”, adding that “the MLP will certainly not make promises it can’t keep.”
Elsewhere, “Muxuhunt” observed that: “Falzon said enforcement will remain, but without all this harassment (dan il-qziez kollu), and hunters will not be treated like criminals.”
Some also tried to speculate on the permissible changes to existing regulations as hinted at by Falzon: “They will try to add to the huntable birdlist (birds such as) the curlew”, Muxuhunt suggested, referring to a wading bird which is legal game in two or three EU countries, but not in Malta where it is considered an endangered species.
Contacted yesterday, a painstakingly cautious Dr Falzon refused to be drawn into any form of confirmation or denial of any of these conjectures, insisting instead that his statements to the hunters be quoted verbatim.
Monday’s meeting was the first in a series of meetings between the FKNK and the MLP; the next meeting will be held in Rabat on 12 October, followed by another in Mosta on 14 October.