Commission must heed Member States’ demands on animal welfare reform
Commenting today on the exchange in the [Agriculture and Fisheries] Council of the EU on the paper from Sweden.
Commenting today on the exchange in the [Agriculture and Fisheries] Council of the EU on the paper from Sweden (supported by Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Slovenia) on the revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation¹, the Director of FOUR PAWS’ European Policy Office, Joe Moran, said:
“Today’s clarion call from many Member States2 demonstrates that the thirst for reform of animal welfare standards isn’t the exclusive purview of NGOs or certain quarters of the European Parliament. Moreover, that this paper comes in the very first Council with the new Commissioner for Animal Welfare present itself, sends a strong signal - that no Member States spoke in opposition to seeing new proposals this term speaks volumes. On the one hand we have citizens and farmers demanding changes, improvements and a levelling of a totally fractured playing field, and on the other we have concerns from the very same groups on the potential of new trade deals to undercut European standards further".
“Post the strategic dialogue, there is consensus on the need for reform. Yes, we all want a future-proofed reform that improves animal welfare in a way that is sustainable for farms, whilst delivering on prior commitments to citizens. But there is now an added need: Animal welfare reforms are the only vehicle by which we can conditionalise market access to the EU – the number one demand of recent farmers’ protests across the Union, and something that was echoed by all Member States who intervened".
“We trust the new European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare will live up to his new title and heed the calls of Member States today. They were welcome, timely and compelling.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
¹The AOB item for the meeting of the "Agriculture and Fisheries" Council of 9 and 10 December 2024: Revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation can be seen here.
²All Member States that spoke (SE, BG, DK, FI, DE, CZ, NL, SK, SI, AT, RO, LV, LT, EE, FR) were in favour of reforming the acquis, albeit at differing paces
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org