Migratory Birds (Malta)
Debate between Caroline Nokes and Lord Randall of Uxbridge(10 years, 7 months ago)
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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?
Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) (Con)
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on securing the debate. Does he agree that the situation smacks of the European Commission having lost the will to address the problem?
Sir John Randall
I am not entirely sure. All I know is that the European Commissioner’s time is running out and it is not the best time to discuss such matters, so I think that we will return to them in a couple of months.
The main law that defends our shared wildlife is the EU birds directive, but a new environmental inspections directive is also under consideration. However, we cannot be too cocky. We must get our own house in order, as the illegal persecution of birds still happens in this country, including the recent killing of some red kites in Ross-shire. We cannot lecture people unless we get our house in order—although I stress that I am not trying to lecture the Maltese people.