Hunting groups have offered their support to the government after the European Commission opened infringement proceedings against Malta concerning the research derogation related to the seven species of wild finches. The FKNK said that now in its fourth consecutive year, the Finches Research Programme (FRP) is endorsed and supported by the Federation
Hunters and trappers have accused the European Commission of working with BirdLife Malta and EURING to punish Malta. In a statement on Sunday, hunting and trapping federation FKNK implied that the Commission had relied on Birdlife and EURING when drafting its most recent infringement notice against Malta. “Following a quick read-through of the infringement
BirdLife Malta on Saturday welcomed the decision by the European Commission to open a new infringement procedure against Malta. The Government has once again breached the EU Birds Directive by reintroducing finch trapping under the guise of "scientific research." The Commission's letter of formal notice (INFR(2025)2128) confirms that Malta's latest
The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Malta over its decision to allow the trapping of seven finch species for “research purposes”, saying the practice amounts to “recreational hunting in disguise”. In September , a European court ruled against Malta’s finch trapping regime, saying the project did not establish a genuine
The European Commission today initiated infringement proceedings against Malta concerning the research derogation related to the seven species of wild finches. Following the judgment delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2024 (Case C‑23/23), the government said it introduced subsequent amendments to comply with that ruling. These
