Since Malta’s accession to the EU in 2004, thousands of European citizens have been outraged by the decision of the Maltese Government to allow hunting in spring. MEPs have since been pushing the Commission to ban spring hunting in Malta, the derogation being incompatible with the EU Birds Directive (79/409/CEE(1)). In its answer to question E-1318/06 in June 2006 the Commission stated that it had severe doubts about the Maltese claim that the hunting opportunities in autumn were minimal and that therefore spring derogation was justifiable. However, the Commission urged the Maltese authorities to present additional statistics to justify their claim.

Could the Commission tell us if it has received any (satisfying) additional figures so far and, if not, when - finally - the Commission is expecting to make a decision on the compatibility of the spring hunting derogation in Malta in order to open and shut the case file?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.