Minkejja l-isforzi kollha tal-Gvern sabiex ipinġi l-insib bħala xi attivita’ leġittima u ta’ siwi xjentifiku, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea m’aċċettatx din bħala ġustifikzzjoni valida. Għal darba oħra saħqet li l-għan tar-”riċerka” mhux ċar, u jidher li din mhix għajr skuża sabiex prattika li hija illegali tingħata xejra aċċettabli. Ma ninsewx kemm-il darba l-Kummissjoni ma aċċettatx tentattivi simili sabiex niġġustifikaw l-insib għall-għasafar tal-għana, u kemm-il twissija tatna.

Il-kelliem ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Mark Zerafa qal li jidher li għall-Ministeru ta’ Għawdex, huwa aktar importanti li jogħġob lill-kaċċaturi u lin-nassaba milli nindukraw il-fawna vulnerabbli tagħna.  Hemm bżonn li nwettqu l-obligazzjonijiet internazzjonali tagħna u li nagħtu kas tal-liġijiet internazzjonali filwaqt li naħdmu id f’id mal-imseħbin tagħna fl-Ewropa, sabiex flimkien inħarsu wirt naturali li jappartjeni lilna lkoll. 

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Malta must step up to its international obligations on nature

The government’s efforts to sell finch trapping – a practice clearly in breach of EU law – as genuine scientific research have once again left the European Commission unconvinced. The purpose of the research project is not clear; it is evidently no more than an attempt to apply a thin veneer of legitimacy to an overtly illegal practice. This comes after the Commission has repeatedly rejected past attempts to validate finch trapping, and several warnings. 

Mark Zerafa on behalf of ADPD-The Green Party said the Ministry of Gozo may be reluctant to ruffle feathers and it is clear that pleasing hunters and trappers is of higher priority than protecting our vulnerable wildlife. Rather than justifying an untenable stance, Malta needs to step up to our international obligations, heed international law and work hand in hand with our European partners to safeguard our natural heritage.