Roundup: Cypriot lawmaker's gourmet dish draws EU Commission's sanctions warning

The gourmet dish of a ruling party lawmaker caused a political storm at home and prompted the European Commission to warn Cyprus with sanctions on Tuesday.

Several European newspapers also criticized Cypriot authorities, which are very sensitive to adverse publicity keeping tourists away from the eastern Mediterranean island.

The troubles began when parliamentary deputy Evgenios Hamboullas published a picture on his Facebook account showing himself at a dinner table ready to consume a platter of small songbirds, whose hunting and consumption has been banned by the European Union (EU) and Cyprus.

Hunting or consuming the red or black capped songbirds, locally known as "ambelopoulia" (vine birds) or "sykallides" (fig birds) because of their custom to feed in vineyards or on fig-trees has been made a crime punishable by a fine of 2,000 euros.

The capture of the birds on sticky limesticks has been a widespread hobby for centuries for many Cypriots. But when people started using mist nets capturing the birds by the thousands the government had to bow to European Union pressure to ban the practice of capturing or killing the birds entirely.

However, poachers find ways to trap the birds to continue a lucrative business which reportedly provides them with a black market income of up to 1 million euros.

The ban on bird trapping caused strong reaction from people in areas where the practice was strong, forcing the government to propose an alternative plan which excludes from the ban the killing of birds with small-bore shotguns or slings.

Hamboullas called the banning of bird capturing illegal as it goes against local custom and urged the government to press with its demand for a relaxation by the European Union.

But the European Commission's spokesman on environmental issues Enrico Brivio said it could not accept any alternative plan to the total banning of capturing or killing songbirds.

"This option is not justified under European legislation," Brivio told the Cyprus News Agency from Brussels.

He said the Commission will encourage Cypriot authorities to continue the total banning of bird trapping or killing.

"We do not believe that such an exception as proposed by Cyprus is in line with communal law. The non-lifting of this exception by Cypriot authorities will force the Commission to take appropriate measures," he said.

He did not specify the measures to be taken, but these are usually a hefty daily fine for each day the practice is allowed.

The Attorney General rejected calls for the prosecution of Hamboullas as he enjoys parliamentary immunity, which can only be lifted by a decision of parliament.

But alluding to upcoming parliamentary elections in May, the Attorney General said he will be judged by the public. Endit