a
what was at stake
b
green position
c
what we achieved
d
what we did not achieve

Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals

Animal welfare matters to many European citizens, as was obvious from the resounding response to the 8hours campaign initiated by the S&D MEP Dan Jørgensen, calling for no animal transport in the EU to exceed eight hours.

In the end a majority of MEPs supported the non-legally-binding written declaration.

When the Commission published its strategy paper on animal welfare, it was expected that Parliament would confirm its position, but surprisingly the opposite happened.

 

What was the Greens' position?

The Greens believe that live animals should not be transported for any longer than eight hours at a time.

We also demanded that more financial resources be earmarked for animal welfare under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with a mandatory requirement for its inclusion in rural development programmes and research funds, and called for additional resources to be set aside for inspections by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).

Animal welfare standards should also be promoted in trade policy, with standards equivalent to European norms being imposed on imports into the EU.

 

Did other MEPs accept the Greens' position?
We secured a number of key points, including prompting Parliament for make its first ever call for a new early intervention system for ensuring that animal welfare legislation on long transition times is implemented properly in all Member States.

 

Which points did the Greens lose?
Unfortunately, a majority of MEPs changed their minds and ultimately resisted citizens' calls for an eight-hour limit to be imposed on animal journey times.
Reference(s)
Press & Events
Committee:AGRI

Procedure:Own-initiative procedure

Reference(s):2012/2043(INI)

Lead MEP:Marit Paulsen (ALDE)

Green MEP responsible:Bas Eickhout, Jill Evans

Voted:04/07/2012

Staff contact:(Email)

Outcome of the vote
Below you find the results of the final vote in plenary. How did the political groups vote? What about national delegations? And what was the position of your MEP?