Hunting became an electorally significant issue in the 1996 general elections, when Labour promised to be closer to the aspirations of the hunting lobby. Subsequently, both the Labour (1996-98; 2013-) and Nationalist (1998-2013) Governments attempted to give concessions to the hunters' lobby.

It was also a controversial topic in subsequent elections and during Malta's EU accession process - characterized by a referendum and general election in 2003, (Malta joined in 2004) Labour opposed Malta's EU entry, but the Nationalist Government claimed to obtain concessions for hunters. Following Labour's 2013 electoral victory, the campaign for an abroagative referendum commenced by ENGOs and the Green Party.

The issue has been characterized by antagonisms at national and European levels, and has been subject to contrasting interpretations regarding the implementation of the Birds' Directive and regarding a decision by the European Courts of Justice on the matter. Respective Nationalist and Labour Governments and the hunting lobby have supported hunting in Spring. On the other hand, environmentalists interpreted Malta’s application of an EU derogation as infringing the Birds’ Directive. Subsequently, the environmentalist coalition successfully gathered signatures for a a legally-binding abrogative national referendum on the matter, which is due to take place on 11 April 2015.