EC Bird Directive (Hansard, 23 October 2002)

HC Deb 23 October 2002 vol 391 c361W 361W

§ Mr. Caton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the adoption of the EC Bird Directive by countries joining the European Union [75963]

§ Peter Hain
Enlargement of the European Union means that the Bird Directive's reach will be pushed wider, helping to safeguard biodiversity throughout Europe.
The European Union has provisionally agreed only one transition period after accession, which requires Malta to phase out the trapping of seven types of finch before the end of 2008.
UK officials are working hard with the Commission to ensure that all candidates will be in full compliance with EC law as soon as possible.