HUNT: Hon. Paolo Bartolozzi in his activity as European parliamentarian participated, as a member, in the work of the Intergroup “sustainable hunting, biodiversity and rural activities”, one of the first and largest intergroups of the European Parliament.
Renewed for the current legislature in 2009, the "hunting, fishing and environment" intergroup has as its main purpose the defense of European hunting traditions and the balanced management of environmental, fish and fauna resources within the Member States, including the topics most followed by this are the management of wildlife and forests, the conservation of the natural environment, sport fishing, forestry and the impact of agricultural reforms and policies on biodiversity. Much of the hunting activity is regulated by European regulations and the Hon. Paolo Bartolozzi has always been committed to supporting and defending the common cause of European hunters.
Here are two examples of the issues he dealt with:
Directive 2009/147 / EC (better known as the "Birds Directive"), is the regulatory cornerstone to which all member states of the European Union must refer in the issue of their legislative acts and administrative measures on the management of fauna. wild and hunting. During the term of the legislature that is being completed, there have been numerous attacks launched by the various animal-environmental organizations to modify Directive 2009/147 / EC in a more restrictive sense as regards the exercise of hunting activities in Europe. Despite all these attempts, the Italian delegation of the EPP to the European Parliament - within which the Hon. Paolo Bartolozzi - has always managed to reject each of these attacks, confirming the full validity of a European legislation that has allowed - and continues to allow - all Member States to allow the exercise of hunting activities, certainly in compliance with the Directives community, but above all in respect of the hunting traditions existing in all member countries of the Union.
Unfortunately Italy, in transposing the Community Directive, has applied the European regulations in an excessively restrictive way, proof of this is that the state law n. 157/92 continues to be the most restrictive state legislation (both in terms of timing and of species that can be hunted) among all member countries of the European Union. An example above all is represented by the obligation of two days a week of absolute hunting silence imposed by state law 157/92 during the opening period of the hunt, a restriction that is not similar in any other European country. Suffice it to think that France, a country bordering Italy, allows through its national legislation to practice hunting for a number of species practically double compared to what is allowed in Italy. It should be noted that all huntable species in France are considered to be normally huntable by the European Union.
By issuing the "interpretative guide to the birds directive", the European Commission has further clarified the correct methods of application of the Community Directive, also as regards the correct application of the derogation regime, explicitly provided for by art. 9 paragraph 1) of Directive 2009/147 / EC and applied in almost all member countries of the European Union. However, in our country there are associations, politicians and public institutions that very often undertake to "interpret" the guidelines of Europe in terms of hunting activities in a restrictive and oppressive sense. The defense of these important European legislative references has represented one of the most qualifying points of the commitment of the Intergroup and above all of the most sensitive Italian MEPs in matters of hunting. The Italian hunting activity has recently been the subject of a further attack.
The European Commission, following a complaint lodged by some Italian animal-environmental organizations, on 20 February 2014 with note C (2014) 934, sent the Italian authorities a letter of formal notice pursuant to art. 258 of the TFEU which communicates the activation of the infringement procedure 2014/2006 regarding the capture of birds to be used as live decoys pursuant to Directive 2009/147 / EC. This may mean the end of the capture facilities that allowed hunters to acquire live decoys at affordable costs, severely limiting the phenomenon of the black market of decoys and can also result in a heavy penalty for Italy, if the Italian government does not produce adequate documentation to the European Commission within the term of sixty days, proving the groundlessness of the contents included in the complaint made by the Italian anti-huntsmen. This is also one of the many examples of how anti-huntsmen continue to pursue the objective of limiting hunting activity as much as possible, an attempt that must find firm opposition from the Italian MEPs in the European Parliament but also from the elected representatives of the Parliament. national.
In this battle the Hon. Bartolozzi will continue to do his part, firmly defending the rights of all hunters who, in addition to being Serie A citizens, are also the most competent protagonists in the correct management of the fauna and environmental heritage in all member countries of the European Union. The key points on which the commitment of the Hon. Paolo Bartolozzi in the next legislature in the European Parliament to improve the regulations on hunting activities and to allow an ancient tradition to continue to live and be able to involve women and young people who today are getting closer and closer to the world of hunting and the protection of our territory.
Brussels, 29 April 2014