The environment ministers of Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Spain have written to the EU Environment Commissioner, M Vella, who hails himself from Malta, calling for the Birds Directive and Habitat Directive to be maintained, un-merged and better implemented.
These countries represent well over half, and close to two thirds, of the EU population. The major player absent from this list is the UK.
The public consultation on the ‘re-fit’ attracted a huge response, particularly from the UK, and was overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining the status quo with some minor strengthening. The UK government has disregarded this outpouring of support from the UK and EU public for the directives and appears to be playing its own, sneeky, game in Brussels.
David Cameron, Liz Truss and Rory Stewart – what are you doing and for whom are you doing it?
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Wouldn’t it be great if when Cameron comes along rattling his tin, the other leaders pointed out the strength of the response from the UK. Like so much right wing thought, this approach to the Regulations is driven by dogmatic fury that they are in the way, rather than any rational or evidence based attempt to properly understand the nature of the issue, or indeed the issue of nature. A pig headed man leading a pack of donkeys.
Is it me or is it not the case that much of this Government’s approach is sneaky, devious and underhand? Along with many in this country I have always valued fair play, honesty, integrity and transparency and there must be many like me who, on hearing the latest sneaky ruse set the house ringing – ” YOU Bxxxxxxs
Makes me feel a little better every time but not as good a just being honourable for once and signing and doing the right thing.
Obviously her bosses at the NFU didn’t approve it! Is anyone really surprised?
Interesting to see that still the GWCT haven’t mentioned the Birds Directive and Habitat Directive, when pretty much every wildlife conservation body I could think of was campaigning for people to sign the petition a short while ago. Are GWCT perhaps just anti EU or perhaps are they more concerned with hunting and farming interests that wildlife?
While I am hugely disappointed the UK has not signed this letter, I am amazed to see some of the other EU countries that have.
As I write this comment, thousands of birds are being illegally trapped and killed across southern Europe. This practice has been going on for many years yet the local governments have done very little to curtail it. This includes the lack of action by the UK to stop illegal trapping on the Cyprus airbase. Action speaks louder than words.
The Campaign Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) is out there fighting this slaughter – have a look at their reports for the last few days – be warned – it is not pleasant reading for birders. https://www.facebook.com/CABS2011/?fref=nf
George, thanks for that link. I only hope that many people see it and send these guys a healthy donation. Fantastic work against disgusting and dangerous people.
It’s easy to forget that in all these countries, it is only a minority of people killing these birds. Problem is, as in this country, so few of the general public know or understand what’s going on. Hopefully, this will begin to change with technology. This is a good use of Facebook.
As for our Goverment not signing the letter, since they condone the killing of our own birds, I guess they shouldn’t tell others not too!!