Migratory Birds (Malta)
Debate between Andrew George and Lord Randall of Uxbridge(10 years, 7 months ago)
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Sir John Randall
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who is absolutely right. I regret this problem with a few people in Malta, because the ties between our two countries are immense.
Andrew George (St Ives) (LD)
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on securing the debate and on the case he makes. In congratulating the movement in Malta and the Government’s approach, is he not shocked that Chris Packham was detained by the police for highlighting the abuses going on in the country?
Sir John Randall
I do not know the exact situation, but it seems on the surface that that was not the best move.
In March, 33 MEPs from 10 member states wrote to Environment Commissioner Potocnik saying that
“the Maltese government has sought to justify the derogation through inaccurate reports and unreliable and even fictional data.”
Will the Government call on Janez Potocnik, the EU Environment Commissioner, to ensure that the directive is properly enforced in Malta?