WRITTEN QUESTION E-3908/02 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Malta.
Date: 2003-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Malta, accession negotiations, bird, derogation from EU law, hunting regulations

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/693

(2004/C 78 E/0740)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3908/02

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: Malta

It is understood that during accession negotiations, the EU granted Malta a derogation for spring hunting
of common quail coturnix coturnix and turtle dove streptopelia turtur on the islands. The Commission has
previously stated that this derogation is subject to ‘strict conditions’.

Could the Commission please explain why Malta was granted a derogation in the first place?

Could the Commission also clarify what these ‘strict conditions’ are and what concession, if any, is Malta
obliged to give for such a derogation? Furthermore, how does the Commission propose to monitor Malta’s
respect of its commitments in this area?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

With regard to hunting of common quail coturnix coturnix and turtle dove streptopelia turtur, Malta has
not been given a derogation beyond the provisions of Article 9 of the Birds Directive (1). Article 9 of this
Council Directive allows, where there is no other satisfactory solution, for exceptions under certain very
stringent conditions.

This means that, if Malta wishes to allow spring hunting for these species, it would need to ensure that all
the requirements of Article 9 are met and that hunting is carried out under ‘strictly supervised conditions’
and limited to ‘small numbers’ only. Furthermore, the recourse to Article 9 is subject to regular monitoring
by the Commission and Malta is committed, in such a case, to report each year on its possible use.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2004/C 78 E/0741)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0064/03

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 January 2003)

Subject: European assistance for the raising of the Le Joola ferry which sank off the coast of Senegal

The Le Joola ferry sank off the coast of Senegal and Gambia in September with more than a thousand
Africans and several European citizens on board, including the Netherlands nationals Roel and Lisette
Arendshorst. Very many family members in Africa and Europe and the Netherlands want to recover the
bodies of the victims and bury them on land.

Is the correct that the European Commission has already offered to fund the raising of the ship from the
eighth European Development Fund?

Why has the government of Senegal still not accepted the offer and what is preventing the Senegalese
government from raising the ship so that the victims can be given a dignified burial by their families?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2003)

The Commission has not made the offer mentioned by the Honourable Member since such funding falls
outside the objectives of development co-operation with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States as
defined in Article 177 of the EC Treaty and the Cotonou Agreement.