BirdLife Malta criticizes minister for misleading EU on conservation

BirdLife Malta has publicly criticized Minister Clint Camilleri for allegedly misleading the European Commission regarding Malta's finch trapping derogation. In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Robert Abela, BirdLife Malta's CEO Mark Sultana and President Darryl Grima expressed their concerns following a ruling by the European Court of Justice, which found Malta in violation of its obligations under the EU Birds Directive for the third time. The organization argues that the derogation, presented as scientific research, lacks genuine conservation value and is merely a facade. The letter, published on Independence Day, highlights the repeated failures of the finch trapping derogation, which has been deemed ineffective and misleading. BirdLife Malta asserts that the derogation has been a 'smokescreen' and that the government has not provided adequate justification for its application. They emphasize that the ruling from the European Court of Justice confirmed their long-held position that the derogation was unjustifiable. BirdLife Malta calls for accountability from the government, urging that trust in Minister Camilleri must be accompanied by responsibility. They stress the importance of restoring Malta's reputation in Europe, warning that continued breaches of EU law could further damage the country's standing and raise questions about its commitment to the rule of law. The organization insists that Malta must take decisive action to avoid further reputational harm and to comply with the European Court's ruling. They argue that the government should abandon attempts to mislead the European Commission and instead focus on genuine conservation efforts that align with EU directives.