Maltese falcons

There is a dead palm tree on the coastal promenade in the Maltese resort of Sliema. “Killed by red palm weevil,” says Joe Camillieri who twice daily walks the promenade with his dogs.

“A pest imported from Africa,” adds Joe (referring to the weevil rather than his dogs). Malta has a thing about Africa. Many citizens of the Maltese islands are none too keen about the growing numbers of migrants from Somalia and Eritrea who each summer find themselves unhappily washed up on their coasts. “Best to refuel their boats, give them a meal and fresh water and send them on to Italy,” says Joe.

The chances are that Malta will go to the polls in mid-March, as Lawrence Gonzi’s government seeks a new mandate from the electorate. The migrant issue probably won’t feature on the agenda. Far too touchy to pull in any votes. Nor will that other matter that perennially dogs Maltese politics: bird shooting.

Wander the hills and valleys of Malta and Gozo and the countryside is littered with little hides. These shacks provide cover for the hunters who indiscriminately shoot anything that flies. Mainly songbirds and raptors – all utterly inedible. It is the thrill of the kill that counts. The issue provokes fierce emotions – with the hunters intent on pursuing their trophies, and those with an eye for environmental issues (and Malta’s international reputation) intent on stopping this barbaric sport.

So all eyes will be on Brussels this week as the EU Executive discusses whether Malta should be referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the bird kill issue. Malta is the only EU country that still permits spring hunting of birds. The annual sport usually starts in March – with the government declaring the new season open.

“Of course it will go ahead as usual,” says Joe Camillieri. Others are not so sure. Maltese opinion is finely balanced and an ECJ ruling could finally put an end to the sport. “That,” says Joe Camillieri, “just wouldn’t be fair. Bird shoots are as much a part of our culture as bull fighting is in Spain.”

This is the sixth in a series of guest postings by Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries of hidden europe magazine (http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/).