FKNK & the European Year of Citizens

Vilnius has just hosted the concluding conference of the European Year of Citizens.

Entitled “How to make every year a year of citizens” it focused on the promotion of citizenship as a key element of EU democracy.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius addressing this concluding conference stated “Openness to the world, promotion of democratic values – this is what makes the EU model unique and attractive”.

Yet back home in Malta we have the Federation of Hunters and Trappers (FKNK) proposing the curtailment of referendum rights which are being utilised for the first time by civil society in Malta to promote an abrogative referendum to put an end to spring hunting.

It is clear that the promotion of democratic values is an alien value to FKNK. Certainly not a fitting end to the European Year of Citizens.