Luxembourg, 20/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - By request of the French Council of State, the Court of Justice has indicated that France may, by derogation, authorise hunting geese, wood pigeons and thrush outside the hunting season, but under the strict conditions of the EC Directive of 2 April 1979 (article 9) on the conservation of wild birds.
The Court of Justice declared that wild bird hunting practice "for leisure purposes" during periods which enjoy specific protection may correspond to a...