EU plans action over new hunting season for crows (and turtledoves)

[Annces]

By Maria-Christina Doulami

THE E.U. is planning measures against the Cypriot government for its decision last April to grant hunting licenses for crows, the Cyprus Green Party reported yesterday. The announcement was made in a letter received by Greens leader George Perdikis from EU Environmental Commissioner, Stavros Dimas.

According to an announcement issued by the Greens yesterday, Dimas said that “the Commission has been informed about Cyprus’ decision to grant hunting licences for crows last spring, and based on evidence gathered it will put forward the case for violations”. “The Commission is taking the appropriate measures to ensure that Cyprus is in full conformity with EU directives,” Dimas said.

The Greens said: “We hope that the granting of hunting licences for crows, which in essence are selected licences for turtledoves will finally stop, following the EU’s reaction.”

Conservationists are opposed granting of such licenses. Executive Manager of Birdlife Cyprus, Martin Hellicar, said the Interior Minister decided to open a season for crows this spring. “But the actual reason was to allow hunters to shoot turtledoves, which is illegal and a violation of EU law,” he said.

Birdlife issued a complaint to the European Commission (EC) which is currently investigating the violation and is due to issue a warning. “Authorities tried to open a hunting season for turtledoves in the spring of 2007, when again after a complaint the EC warned them not to do so. Now they are trying to do this through the back door, undercover,” Hellicar said. EU Bird Directives prohibit hunting during spring season in order to protect wild birds during their migration, especially turtledoves which are a threatened species due to their declining numbers.




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