What the EU really wants from Malta

[Drattax]

Spring hunting

Commission to take legal action against Malta

Ivan Camilleri in Brussels
The European Commission has decided to start legal action against Malta on spring hunting.
The decision was formally taken during the weekly meeting of the college of Commissioners in Brussels, the 25-member executive that found Malta in breach of the Birds Directive.
Although the decision has not been made public yet - it is expected to be formally announced today - Commission sources yesterday confirmed to The Times that the executive has decided to send a warning letter to Malta over the spring hunting of two species of birds - quail and turtle dove.
"The hunting of these migratory birds begins in March, during their return from Africa to their breeding grounds in Europe . On the basis of information provided by the Maltese authorities, the Commission believes that alternative solutions to spring hunting exist as this could take place in the autumn," the sources said.
"It is quite evident that we are not satisfied with the justifications brought up by the Maltese authorities to keep allowing spring hunting and that is why we have set in motion the first step in our legal procedure," the official spokesman of Commissioner Stravos Dimas, responsible for the environment, said.
Malta is the only EU member state where spring hunting is allowed. This is still possible as Malta currently implements a derogation under article nine of the EU Birds Directive allowing hunting on only two species and in line with certain rules. In order to allow this, however, Malta has to justify its position every year with the Commission.
Following its justification report presented to the Commission last November, the Commission had asked the Maltese authorities to submit more evidence so that a final decision could be taken. It seems this was not enough to persuade the Commission officials to extend the concession to Malta.
Commission sources said the Maltese authorities had claimed that hunting opportunities in autumn were minimal and thus a spring derogation was justifiable there being "no other satisfactory solution" in the terms of article 9 of the Birds Directive. Evidently the Commission does not share this opinion.
In their report, the Maltese authorities provided data from the carnet de chasse statistics for autumn 2004. In the view of the Commission these figures do not support the case that only minimal opportunities exist, the sources added.
Before yesterday's decision, the Commission had already sounded the alarm bells on Malta's spring hunting. In front of the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament last February, Commission officials had stated that preliminary analyses of the report submitted by the Maltese government indicated that the island's derogation allowing spring hunting was not in conformity with the Birds Directive.
Yesterday's decision by the Commission is in line with article 226 of the Treaty which enables the Commission to take legal action against a member state that does not respecting its obligations.
According to the Treaty, if the Commission considers that there may be an infringement of EU law that warrants the opening of an infringement procedure, it addresses a Letter of Formal Notice, that is a first written warning to the member state concerned, requesting it to submit its observations by a specified date. Thus Malta has been given two months to reply to the Commission's charge.
In a statement yesterday, BirdLife International welcomed the Commission's decision. Konstantin Kreiser, policy officer at BirdLife in Brussels, said the decision shows that the European Commission won't tolerate this any longer and that it has committed itself to take legal action in case Malta does not end spring hunting.
"This decision follows earlier judgments by the European Court against other countries and sends a clear signal that there won't be any special treatment for Malta.
"The Maltese government will now have to ensure that no spring hunting takes place from 2007 onwards; otherwise it will be taken to the European Court of Justice," he said.



This is what the EU wants to do with Malta. This is the issue of the greatest importance for them to settle and not the Illegal Immigration festering wound! They give no damn shit to that! I was against the Spring hunting issue for so long but I am now changing my mind and the damn hunters can blast the chicks out of the skies as there are FAR MORE important issues at stake now.



If the EU get their way (as they sure will with the sedate government we have), I suggest shooters turn their sights to HUNTING AT SEA - ******** THE ***** ******* ENTERING IN RICKSHAW BOATS INTO OUR TERRITORY!
WHO NEEDS THE PATROL BOATS THE EU WANT TO SURVEY OUR SEAS!

[shadow cup]

Sheash! I know that they are a problem but this just gives fodder to those who seek every excuse to paint VM in a bad light (And no they don't do poetic license I don't think). ^_^;;;

We're all frustrated to one degree or another but there are far more better ways to vent frustration.

[Gladiator]

And wait till you get fined or the Malta Government to kingdom come.
And who is going to pay the huge fine?

[shadow cup]

Fined? Let us just say that the EU have found a cunning way to collect tributes!

After all, its bollocks to believe that by fining an EU country some good will come out of it aside from lining certain individuals' pockets. EU/ European USSR!

[praefectus]

It has nothing to do with the EU (nothing more than a structure), but by the criminals and traitors that currently command the majority in the EU parliment ... it's the same story in Brussels as it is in Malta. Traitors all around -- it's time to stand and fight.

[Gladiator]

It has nothing to do with the EU (nothing more than a structure), but by the criminals and traitors that currently command the majority in the EU parliment ... it's the same story in Brussels as it is in Malta. Traitors all around -- it's time to stand and fight.

No it's blackmail. Pure and simple blackmail. Do this and if you fail to follow suite, I shall punish you. Those are the new rules of the Club.

[Drattax]

But the EU gave us a paltry 2 million euros for us to solve the immigration problem and Gonzo was happy and upbeat about that.
...How much will it fine Gonzo if the Commission decides on this hunting irrelevance?

[shadow cup]

But the EU gave us a paltry 2 million euros for us to solve the immigration problem and Gonzo was happy and upbeat about that.
...How much will it fine Gonzo if the Commission decides on this hunting irrelevance?

I have no idea but I would hazard the guess that it would be enough for some Maltese persons to declare war on the EU (figuratively speaking? Who knows...).

In any case the fine-based penalty lesiglations are impotent in their ineffectiveness at education and instill anger and hate more than achieve any other goal.

[Sepp44]

But the EU gave us a paltry 2 million euros for us to solve the immigration problem and Gonzo was happy and upbeat about that.
...How much will it fine Gonzo if the Commission decides on this hunting irrelevance?


The 2 million euros Drattax, is to be shared between Malta and the Canary Islands.We wouldn't see one centavo if the governor of the Canaries did not open his mouth.Canaries gets as it is Spanish territory.Even a governor of an island has more clout than the prime minister of our island it seems.

[shadow cup]

The Euros were but petty bribes. Candy offered to kids so as to get in a mysterious stranger's car. And Malta is now on the back seat thanks to the childish brain in power.

They got us into this mess and they clearly are unable to get us out of it. We have signed off our sovreignty to forces potentially far far greater than ourselves and in the process we have fallen to the level of a 'member of the EU' the continental geopolitical equivalent of becoming an employee at MacEU because once a shift you get a meal and forget to ask about the pay 'and' also forget those dreams of setting up your own business and such.

Oh Malta... You've been voted blonde (yeps couldn't resist)! ;cP

[Sepp44]

(yeps couldn't resist)! ;cP

Well try and resist shadow cup.Do not feel that you have to comment on every single post made by members.Many of your posts seem to spin off into space and bear no relevance to the articles.
The money is not a euro bribe.The money is a contribution to a 'province' of one of the richer of the euro states, Spain, using eu taxpayers money.Malta is an after thought.Do not cloud the issue as you do many other threads with your dreams and visions.
If you cannot relate to the topic in hand on a realistic level,please refrain from posting.

[Marco Polo]

Spring hunting

Commission to take legal action against Malta

Ivan Camilleri in Brussels
The European Commission has decided to start legal action against Malta on spring hunting.
The decision was formally taken during the weekly meeting of the college of Commissioners in Brussels, the 25-member executive that found Malta in breach of the Birds Directive.
Although the decision has not been made public yet - it is expected to be formally announced today - Commission sources yesterday confirmed to The Times that the executive has decided to send a warning letter to Malta over the spring hunting of two species of birds - quail and turtle dove.
"The hunting of these migratory birds begins in March, during their return from Africa to their breeding grounds in Europe . On the basis of information provided by the Maltese authorities, the Commission believes that alternative solutions to spring hunting exist as this could take place in the autumn," the sources said.
"It is quite evident that we are not satisfied with the justifications brought up by the Maltese authorities to keep allowing spring hunting and that is why we have set in motion the first step in our legal procedure," the official spokesman of Commissioner Stravos Dimas, responsible for the environment, said.
Malta is the only EU member state where spring hunting is allowed. This is still possible as Malta currently implements a derogation under article nine of the EU Birds Directive allowing hunting on only two species and in line with certain rules. In order to allow this, however, Malta has to justify its position every year with the Commission.
Following its justification report presented to the Commission last November, the Commission had asked the Maltese authorities to submit more evidence so that a final decision could be taken. It seems this was not enough to persuade the Commission officials to extend the concession to Malta.
Commission sources said the Maltese authorities had claimed that hunting opportunities in autumn were minimal and thus a spring derogation was justifiable there being "no other satisfactory solution" in the terms of article 9 of the Birds Directive. Evidently the Commission does not share this opinion.
In their report, the Maltese authorities provided data from the carnet de chasse statistics for autumn 2004. In the view of the Commission these figures do not support the case that only minimal opportunities exist, the sources added.
Before yesterday's decision, the Commission had already sounded the alarm bells on Malta's spring hunting. In front of the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament last February, Commission officials had stated that preliminary analyses of the report submitted by the Maltese government indicated that the island's derogation allowing spring hunting was not in conformity with the Birds Directive.
Yesterday's decision by the Commission is in line with article 226 of the Treaty which enables the Commission to take legal action against a member state that does not respecting its obligations.
According to the Treaty, if the Commission considers that there may be an infringement of EU law that warrants the opening of an infringement procedure, it addresses a Letter of Formal Notice, that is a first written warning to the member state concerned, requesting it to submit its observations by a specified date. Thus Malta has been given two months to reply to the Commission's charge.
In a statement yesterday, BirdLife International welcomed the Commission's decision. Konstantin Kreiser, policy officer at BirdLife in Brussels, said the decision shows that the European Commission won't tolerate this any longer and that it has committed itself to take legal action in case Malta does not end spring hunting.
"This decision follows earlier judgments by the European Court against other countries and sends a clear signal that there won't be any special treatment for Malta.
"The Maltese government will now have to ensure that no spring hunting takes place from 2007 onwards; otherwise it will be taken to the European Court of Justice," he said.



This is what the EU wants to do with Malta. This is the issue of the greatest importance for them to settle and not the Illegal Immigration festering wound! They give no damn shit to that! I was against the Spring hunting issue for so long but I am now changing my mind and the damn hunters can blast the chicks out of the skies as there are FAR MORE important issues at stake now.



If the EU get their way (as they sure will with the sedate government we have), I suggest shooters turn their sights to HUNTING AT SEA - ******** THE ***** ******* ENTERING IN RICKSHAW BOATS INTO OUR TERRITORY!
WHO NEEDS THE PATROL BOATS THE EU WANT TO SURVEY OUR SEAS!

all that happened was that the government used the eu as a scapegoat. they lacked the balls to do anything to stop hunting (and thus free up land for their developer friends) and used the eu to do it for them.

all over europe all difficult laws are pushed throught brussels as if they are unpopular brussels gets the blame.

the hunters have been royaly screwed by the PN and they know it. the eu is so convenient for those who lack the balls to do the job.

[Sepp44]

all that happened was that the government used the eu as a scapegoat. they lacked the balls to do anything to stop hunting (and thus free up land for their developer friends) and used the eu to do it for them.

all over europe all difficult laws are pushed throught brussels as if they are unpopular brussels gets the blame.

the hunters have been royaly screwed by the PN and they know it. the eu is so convenient for those who lack the balls to do the job.

correct!

[umberto]

EU is bullsh.t.

[Sepp44]

EU is bbc

[dust commander]

The Euros were but petty bribes. Candy offered to kids so as to get in a mysterious stranger's car. And Malta is now on the back seat thanks to the childish brain in power.

They got us into this mess and they clearly are unable to get us out of it. We have signed off our sovreignty to forces potentially far far greater than ourselves and in the process we have fallen to the level of a 'member of the EU' the continental geopolitical equivalent of becoming an employee at MacEU because once a shift you get a meal and forget to ask about the pay 'and' also forget those dreams of setting up your own business and such.

Oh Malta... You've been voted blonde (yeps couldn't resist)! ;cP

Tell that to Eurodefence on another thread.

[Gladiator]

:p EU is bbc
You are going to give Eurodefence a heart attack.:p

[Animus]

The 2 million euros Drattax, is to be shared between Malta and the Canary Islands.We wouldn't see one centavo if the governor of the Canaries did not open his mouth.Canaries gets as it is Spanish territory.Even a governor of an island has more clout than the prime minister of our island it seems.



He doesn't have to put in too much effort then - its easy to have more clout than a hamster with beans for balls

[Marco Polo]

EU is bullsh.t.

actually all the european goverments are bullshit so when you add them all together and make up a common parliament and commission you have?

..........one big pile of bullshit

the eu is the sum of its parts. if the parts were good the eu would be good.

[Angelfish]

The EU can go and copulate with itself! I was always an anti hunter but as far as I am concerned they can go and break as many EU rules as they like re hunting. Il hmar taghna u ahna nirkbuh! The friggin EU is more interested in the ruddy migrating birds then in the future of the Maltese natives right now.
Crazy buggers!

[Angelfish]

Joe Grima write a few interesting things about Eu membership and Malta in the current issue of Di-ve. Anyone interested go and gave a good look.

[Marco Polo]

The EU can go and copulate with itself! I was always an anti hunter but as far as I am concerned they can go and break as many EU rules as they like re hunting. Il hmar taghna u ahna nirkbuh! The friggin EU is more interested in the ruddy migrating birds then in the future of the Maltese natives right now.
Crazy buggers!

are you so blind as to not see it is our own government and their doing? you are as bad as the british!

[umberto]

No, our govt. always resisted such changes.

[Marco Polo]

No, our govt. always resisted such changes.

changes in EU law? why doesnt gov just veto? dont kid yourself!

The EU is the sum of its parts.

When some unpopular law needs to be passed in the UK the EU comes in oh so handy for Mr Blair and his merry band of commisars. Too bad the Brits are too naive.

the truth is plain to see, the emperor has no clothes.

[umberto]

ufff, i refrain from posting.

check your damned fact, if you know anything about the EU, not all regulations are passed by Veto, and most probably this is one of them. He would surely had vetoed it out.

[Marco Polo]

ufff, i refrain from posting.

check your damned fact, if you know anything about the EU, not all regulations are passed by Veto, and most probably this is one of them. He would surely had vetoed it out.

then simply defy the laws!

bloody hell, with media the gov could turn the people anti eu in an instant.

The gov wants to obey them, they can save their crocodile tears for another time. the gov simply proposes a few demands of his own and screw the EU.

however way you look at it the gov is incompetent.

[carlos]

1) As things are today, hunters are one of the very last obstacles before developers can go and rampage what's left of the countryside.

2) Hunters will never stop hunting, period! Even if hunting's gonna turn them into outlaws. And for that I respect them.

3) I think we are close to another show of force by the hunters like they did in 1993, before they were craftily divided and conquered politically by dak il-kurnut il-fenek.

AS usual time will hopefully tell!

[umberto]

There should be no doubt in here that the govt. is incompetent and treacherous. And there should be no doubt that he should be pressured to defy all regulations not suitable to us.

[Animus]

There should be no doubt in here that the govt. is incompetent and treacherous. And there should be no doubt that he should be pressured to defy all regulations not suitable to us.



When did you ever meet a competent hamster???

[Marco Polo]

There should be no doubt in here that the govt. is incompetent and treacherous. And there should be no doubt that he should be pressured to defy all regulations not suitable to us.

exactly. we can use our brains to defy suicidal laws.

i do not believe that the eu as it stands is a force for good but it is a sum of its parts.

[Marco Polo]

1) As things are today, hunters are one of the very last obstacles before developers can go and rampage what's left of the countryside.

2) Hunters will never stop hunting, period! Even if hunting's gonna turn them into outlaws. And for that I respect them.

3) I think we are close to another show of force by the hunters like they did in 1993, before they were craftily divided and conquered politically by dak il-kurnut il-fenek.

AS usual time will hopefully tell!

i have gradually changed my views from totally anti hunting to someone borderline pro-hunter. better the devil you know...........