Stibbe advises the State of Malta

Matter
EU Law

Assisting the State of Malta with regard to the alleged failure of Malta to fulfill its obligations under the Birds Directive.

The Commission initiated proceedings before the Court of Justice against the Republic of Malta and requested the Court to “declare that by adopting a derogation regime allowing the live-capturing of seven species of wild finches (Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, Linnet Carduelis cannabina, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, Greenfinch Carduelis chloris, Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Serin Serinus serinus and Siskin Carduelis spinus), the Republic of Malta has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 5(a) and 5(e) and 8(1) in connection with Annex IV, point (a), read in conjunction with Article 9(1), of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds”. We assist the Republic of Malta in this procedure and advised it on specific issues relating to the Bird Directive, in particular the Directive’s Article 9.