The environmental association Gruppo d'Intervento Giuridico has filed a complaint with the European Commission to denounce the "violations of EU legislation on the protection of wild birds" present in the Sardinian regional hunting calendar for 2024-2025 launched by the region on 22 August.
The Grig, in particular, contests the hunting calendar with regards to «the hunting of turtle doves, whose population is in sharp decline , in contrast with the recommendation to suspend hunting requested by the European Commission, and the hunting of lapwings , in the absence of a national management plan and classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List».
«In contrast with Community legislation – adds the environmental group – is also the closure of the hunting season on 30 January 2025 for numerous species of aquatic and migratory birds, already the subject of case EUP(2023)10542 which concerns hunting calendars that provide for the hunting of the song thrush, redwing, fieldfare, teal and mallard species after the start of the migration period indicated in Community guides and documents on the matter ».
The Grig, recalling that «several Sardinian hunting calendars are already the object of community contestation procedures», also underlines that «the hunting policy of the autonomous Region of Sardinia, despite the change of government majority, is still largely lacking in terms of the protection of wild fauna».
"The fundamental crux - the ecologists add - is clearly revealed in the decisive role (unique in Italy) of the Regional Wildlife Committee, composed largely of representatives of the hunting world , who make choices dictated by hunting interests and nothing more. Added to this, more than thirty years after law no. 157/1992 and subsequent amendments and more than twenty-five years after Sardinia regional law no. 23/1998 and subsequent amendments, is the continuing lack of hunter-territory connection, with the failure to establish territorial hunting areas , which would contribute to making hunters more responsible".
For this reason, Grig is asking Brussels to "open an infringement procedure".
«The pecuniary sanctions resulting from a conviction at the end of an infringement procedure were recently set by the European Commission with the Communication Commission SEC 2005 (1658): the minimum sanction for Italy was set at 9,920,000 euros, while the penalty for late payment can range between 22,000 and 700,000 euros for each day of delay in payment , based on the seriousness of the infringement», concludes the Grig, recalling that « there are currently 72 infringement procedures opened by the European Commission against Italy, 22 of which concern environmental matters».
Therefore, «never as in this case should Italy, that is, Italian citizens, that is, Italian taxpayers, literally pay the consequences of the eternal electoral bills that the government political forces owe to the hunting world».
(Online Union)
