Malta is facing judgement by the EU’s top court because of its controversial tradition of shooting birds which are migrating in spring.
The EU has long been uneasy with the island nation over the matter.
Defenders say that hunting the birds while they are making their way across the Mediterranean to Europe from Africa is a long-established custom.
Critics believe the practice means birds are shot dead before they can breed.
Although the EU has banned spring hunting, Malta applies every year to get a short period of exemption
The European Commission said these exemptions must be used "judiciously, with small numbers and strict supervision". It added that "these conditions have not been met in this case."
It sent formal warnings to Malta last October and again this May. Malta disputed the Commission’s view and went ahead with the hunt.
The case has not been sent to the European Court of Justice.
Support for the habit appears to be waning in Malta. In an April refernedum voters gave narrowly approval to the continuation of the hunts.
