Europa – 31. 10. 2025

Victory in court: Finch hunting in Italy violates EU law!

31.10.2025

This autumn, the right-wing populist government of the northern Italian region of Lombardy allowed the hunting of chaffinches, which are protected throughout Europe, in violation of applicable law. From 1 October to 31 October, 97,600 finches were authorised to be shot. Hunters made extensive use of this election gift – since the beginning of October, they have been shooting at the migratory birds with all their might. The Supreme Administrative Court in Rome, which was called upon by a coalition of Italian nature conservation associations – including the Committee Against Bird Slaughter – ruled today that the hunting permit clearly violates EU law and is therefore unlawful.