The United Kingdom is one of the Member States to have received a first written warning regarding the implementation of the Wild Birds Directive, which sets out measures for the protection, management and control of all species of naturally occurring birds as well as provisions designed to protect their habitats.
Member States are required to designate special protection areas for the 194 threatened species and all migratory bird species. The Directive also bans activities that directly threaten birds, such as the deliberate killing or capture of birds, the destruction of their nests and taking of their eggs, and associated activities such as trading in live or dead birds (subject to a number of exceptions).
Having received its first written warning from the Commission, the UK Government will now have to submit its observations on the allegations made by the Commission, usually within two months.
Details can be found here.