Brussels and hunting activity
The European Commission has accepted the observations on the provisions relating to hunting in budget law no. 197/2022 and closed the Pilot procedure which will be followed by infringement proceedings against Italy if the legislation is not modified. This was communicated by the International Animal Protection Organization (Oipa), which published the letter sent by the Ministry for European Affairs to the Ministries of the Environment and Agriculture in which "the Administrations are invited to evaluate the most appropriate initiatives aimed at preventing the initiation of an infringement procedure". According to theOIPA, in the event of an infringement procedure, the fine will cost all Italians approximately 8 thousand euros per day until the Government adapts to European legislation on the protection of the environment and biodiversity.
A compliance issue
Paragraphs 447 and 448 of article 1 of the law have come under the scrutiny of the Commission since Italy has not eliminated the legal uncertainty introduced by the law, which continues to represent a problem of compliance with the European Birds and Habitats Directives, explains Oipa, therefore, as stated in the note, "the Commission intends to propose the initiation of an infringement procedure". In particular, paragraph 447 grants the Regions the power to monitor and, if necessary, authorize numerical control plans, through culling or capture, of wild fauna species even in areas prohibited to hunting, such as protected areas, and in periods of the year when hunting is prohibited.
Safety and security
Oipa points out that these predictions lead to an indiscriminate slaughter of fauna, also putting public safety and security at risk. Every year, at the end of the hunting season, there are deaths and injuries among humans, both hunters and non-hunters. Authorizing hunting trips in protected areas, in cities and on any day of the year can make the phenomenon worse. «We hope that the Ministries will want to get to grips with the matter as soon as possible to avoid European censorship», declares Oipa's wildlife manager, Alessandro Piacenza. «The rules that transform Italy into a Wild West scenario where hunters can intervene anytime and anywhere, even in parks and urban areas, must be reviewed immediately. Europe has put Italy under observation, so that ministers avoid Italy's umpteenth fool in terms of the environment and biodiversity" (source: OIPA).