Brussels, 22/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - In July the European Commission has launched legal action against four Member States. Finland, Italy and Spain are being asked to ensure correct regulation of hunting practices. Although the Wild Birds Directive in principle bans the killing of wild birds authorises the hunting of some species during key periods of migration and breeding.
Finland: The Commission has sent a first warning letter to Finland, following a judgement of the Court of Justice of 15 December 2005 (Case C-344/03) condemning the practice of spring hunting of birds in Finland, both on the Åland islands and the Finnish mainland. Finland allows the hunting of certain bird species, including velvet scoter, eider duck and golden-eye duck in spring. It is being called on to adapted its hunting periods and allow it during the autumn when the reproduction period is over.
Italy: The Commission has decided legal action against Italy over infringements of the Birds Directive in Sardinia and in the Veneto region. Under regional legislation for both Veneto and Sardinia, where the capture or killing of birds protected under the Directive is authorised for exceptional reasons. The Commission argues that this leads to too many birds being captured or killed. Two final written warnings on the same grounds have been sent to Italy with regard to the regional legislation permitting hunting in the Liguria region, and for the regions of Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Marche, Puglia, Umbria, Calabria, Lombardia, Toscana.
Spain a first written warning in a case concerning the spring hunting of migrant birds, notably wood pigeon, in the province of Vizcaya as they return to their breeding grounds. The warning follows a judgement of 9 June 2005 (Case C-135/04) against Spain for spring hunting of birds in the neighbouring province of Guipúzcoa concerning the same hunting periods.
Malta, a warning letter was sent to the country over the spring hunting of Quails and Turtle Doves. 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, i.e. hunting in the autumn.