BirdLife Malta welcomes the clarification received from the European Commission regarding Malta’s so-called “research derogation” for finch trapping.
In a letter addressed to BirdLife Malta Chief Executive Mark Sultana, the European Commission confirmed that Commissioner Jessika Roswall did not endorse Malta’s finch-trapping framework during her meeting with Minister Clint Camilleri on 15 October 2025. Instead, the Commissioner requested further information on how the Maltese authorities intend to fully implement the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (C-23/23).
The Commission reiterated that its letter of formal notice sent to Malta in February 2025 still stands and that it is currently assessing the new derogation adopted on 17 October 2025. It further stated that, should EU law not be complied with, it may refer Malta back to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
BirdLife Malta notes this as clear confirmation that the European Commission has not approved or endorsed Malta’s derogation which clearly violates the judgment of the European Court of Justice of 19 September 2024.
Both last year’s so-called research season and the one currently open are aggravating Malta’s position before the European Union through a clear breach of the EU Birds Directive and the European Court of Justice ruling of 19 September 2024.
BirdLife Malta reiterates that the Maltese Government has failed in using this research excuse to continue the trapping of finches, which should have been stopped as declared by the European Court of Justice judgment of 21 June 2018.
Read the press release in Maltese.