Huge damage to olive and horticultural crops in Apulia following invasions by flocks of common starlings

Question for written answer E-001388/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Michele Picaro (ECR)

According to a study conducted by the Department of Agri-Environmental and Land-Use Sciences at 'Aldo Moro' University in Bari, huge damage has been occasioned to olive and horticultural crops following invasions by flocks of common starlings. An average 28.9 % drop in expected product yield has been recorded throughout the Torre Guaceto (Brindisi) starling dormitory area.

The starling is a SPEC3 classified species. Since 1994, it has been included in the list under Annex II/2 of Directive 94/24/EC as a species that can be hunted for Portugal, Spain, France and Greece, while under the 2003 Accession Treaty it was added to that list for Hungary, Malta and Cyprus and, under Directive 2006/105/EC, for Bulgaria and Romania.

Italy is the only Mediterranean country not to have included the common starling as a species that can be hunted under Annex II/2 to Directive 2009/147/EC.

In the light of the above, can the Commission state whether it will include the common starling to the list of species that can be hunted under Annex II/2 to Directive 2009/147/EC?

Submitted: 19.7.2024