Italian MEP Andrea Zanoni has called on the European Commission to put an end to Malta’s spring hunting derogation.

The EU could prevent yet another massacre of migratory birds in Malta through an urgent appeal to the European Court of Justice

The MEP, from the alliance of liberals, is the vice-president of the European Parliament’s Animal Welfare Intergroup.

Asking a parliamentary question, he insisted that thousands of quails and turtle doves were at risk and described the controls provided by local law enforcement as ridiculous.

“The EU could prevent yet another massacre of migratory birds in Malta through an urgent appeal to the European Court of Justice,” Mr Zanoni said.

Birdlife Malta supported Mr Zanoni’s call, describing the spring hunting derogation as unsustainable and not in keeping with EU practices.

Mr Zanoni said it was “unacceptable that a European country violated European law so blatantly by opening fire on thousands of migratory birds”.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) said the European Court’s 2009 verdict for a derogation of spring hunting laws was final and irrevocable.

FKNK secretary Lino Farrugia said Maltese MEPs had never interfered in Italian derogations of which, he added, there were many, including a “sacrilegious” one on Finch shooting for consumption.

Mr Farrugia said Finch shooting was not practised by Maltese hunters, who prize the song birds for their use as live decoys in bird trapping. He added: “Finches’ lives are four times longer in captivity.”

Mr Zanoni said he had taken part in a watch with the Committee Against Bird Slaughter in Malta last October and denounced the state of lawlessness of hunting in Malta.

“I ask the European Commission to take urgent action and to react to this new infringement through the European Court of Justice, for spring hunting to stop immediately and for Maltese authorities to be fined.”