Once again, the European Commission has decided to refer Finland to the Court of Justice of the EU for illegal spring hunting of male eiders in the province of Aland.
This practice continues to be permitted by the Finnish authorities although the European Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) prohibits any hunting of migratory birds during the breeding or spring migration season.
Exceptions to the EU rule are possible provided that certain strict conditions are fulfilled. In the case of eider, however, such conditions are not met as the species is in decline, both in Finland and in the rest of the EU, and the hunting quota in the former exceeds the allowable amount.
In December 2005, the Court had already found Finland guilty of this infringement, which had led to cessation of the condemned practice. However, in 2011, hunting was resumed in the province of Aland. Despite several calls to order – a formal letter of notice in 2012 and a reasoned opinion in 2016 calling on Finland to put an end to the spring hunting of male eiders – the authorities of Aland province decided to open a new hunting season in April 2017. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)