FOUR PAWS congratulates EC on landmark decision to appoint animal welfare Commissioner
For the first time, animal welfare is included in the title of a Commissioner.
Commenting on the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen's presentation of the Commissioners-designate, Joe Moran, Director of FOUR PAWS Brussels, said, “We congratulate Olivér Várhelyi on his nomination as Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare. The inclusion of animal welfare in the title is most welcome and hope this is an indication that animal welfare will be treated as a priority matter in all upcoming deliberations within the new framework. Not least, we expect this ambition to be matched with the necessary resources moving forward. It is essential this work is strongly tied with the tasks of the new Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, in bringing the recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture to life and developing a vision for agriculture and food”.
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