Der Präsident. – Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärung der Kommission zum langfristigen Einsatz für den Tierschutz().
Mairead McGuinness,Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members, for more than 40 years, the European Union has sought to improve the welfare of animals through legislation and other action.
One example is the ban on unenriched cages. It has improved the conditions for 360million laying hens in the European Union. Similarly, we improved the conditions for animal transport and how animals are handled in slaughterhouses.
However, there is still work to be done. Science has shown us that we can do more, and societal demands for better animal welfare rules have also grown. So, we cannot and we will not rest on our laurels.
Later this year, the Commission will propose an ambitious, balanced package of legislative proposals. The goal will be to better align our legislation with current scientific knowledge and citizens’ expectations. To give you one example, in line with the reply to the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘End the Cage Age’, the Commission intends to propose the phasing out of cages used to keep certain farmed animals.
The Commission’s aim is to propose ambitious legislation broader in scope and easier to implement and enforce. At the same time, the legislation will have to take a long-term view. It will have to be balanced and to take into account social and economic realities, as well as food security. The Commission is committed to delivering legislation that represents a major step forward for animals and for society as a whole.
But society keeps evolving, and we must keep pace. In other words, we already need to think ahead and better protect even more animal species. With that in mind, a plan for further opinions on animal welfare from the European Food Safety Authority is in place. It covers, for instance, the welfare of turkeys, beef cattle and farmed fish. The objective is to make the future framework flexible enough that it can easily adapt to new scientific evidence and introduce more specific rules for additional species through tertiary legislation.
In addition, EU animal welfare legislation needs to evolve to better reflect the ethical dimension and growing demands from our citizens. As citizens’ concerns extend to the welfare of animals beyond EU borders, the Commission is assessing the possibility of proposing import requirements.
Lastly, the package will be innovative. Subject to the outcome of the impact assessment, the Commission intends to propose an EU framework for animal welfare labelling to empower consumers to make animal welfare-friendly choices and to allow for a better return on investment for producers that invest in animal welfare.
Honourable Members, animal welfare is a cornerstone of sustainable and resilient food production. It also helps tackle antimicrobial resistance, the silent pandemic that poses a threat to public health worldwide. So, the high ambitions now for animal welfare in the EU must remain high in the years to come.
The European Union has a proud tradition of defending animal welfare and playing a key role in setting global standards. I think we should make sure that we keep this tradition alive well into the future.
Daniel Buda, în numele grupului PPE. – Doamnul președinte, doamna comisar, doamnelor și domnilor colegi, Uniunea Europeană are astăzi cele mai înalte standarde pentru bunăstarea animalelor, încă din primele zile de viață și până la abatorizare, deoarece suntem convinși de existența unei legături indisolubile între bunăstare și calitatea produselor obținute.
În Parlamentul European, am avut o comisie de anchetă privind bunăstarea animalelor în timpul transportului, unde timp de 18 luni am audiat diverși actori implicați în acest domeniu.
Una dintre concluziile acestei comisii a fost faptul că în foarte multe state membre nu se aplică în mod corespunzător Regulamentul numărul 1/ 2005. Atrag atenția, doamna comisar, că, indiferent de legislația existentă la nivel european, dacă aceasta nu este corect implementată, nu vom avea niciodată efectele dorite.
Statele membre au astăzi posibilitatea să aloce bani prin noul PAC fermierilor care asigură standarde sporite de bunăstare, iar România a făcut acest lucru grație angajamentului de a respecta bunăstarea pe termen lung a animalelor.
În același timp, trebuie să fim atenți să nu impunem poveri suplimentare fermierilor, care și așa se confruntă cu o serie de restricții într-o perioadă dificilă, ceea ce ar duce și mai mult la accelerarea fenomenului de abandonare a spațiului rural.
Niels Fuglsang, for S&D-Gruppen. – Hr. formand! Kommissær, ærede kollegaer! Dyr er følende væsener, det skriver vi i vores traktat, og det er fuldstændig rigtigt. Det bør vi også handle på, når vi laver lovgivning i EU og i forhold til den måde, vi driver landbruget på i EU. Vi har problemer i landbruget med dyrevelfærd, det er klart, og det bør være klart for os, når vi laver den nye lovgivning, som vil komme i de kommende år. Jeg taler her om transport i dagevis af dyr, der har for lidt plads og mangler vand og føde. Jeg taler om dyr, der lever størstedelen af deres liv i små bure, hvor de ikke kan bevæge sig. Og jeg taler om kyllinger, der er avlet sådan, at de vokser så hurtigt, at de brækker benene. Derfor mener jeg – i forhold til at sikre dyrevelfærden på lang sigt og sikre nogle forandringer – at det er afgørende, at vi får en dyrevelfærdskommissær. Vi bør have en kommissær, der har dyrevelfærd som ansvar, også i sin titel, og det er der flere grunde til. For det første: Vi har brug for én, der tager ansvaret. Dyrevelfærd, det er alt for ofte et emne, der bliver skubbet frem og tilbage mellem forskellige stole. Vi har set det ofte, når der er skandaler i forbindelse med dyrevelfærd. For få år siden, mens medlemmerne her var valgt til Parlamentet, havde vi en sag, hvor et skib fra Spanien var på vej til Libyen med to tusind tyrekalve, men de blev afvist i Libyen på grund af mistanke om sygdom. Det her skib, det sejlede så rundt i flere måneder i Middelhavet – og der var ikke nogen, der ville tage ansvar for det – indtil dyrene de led og blev syge og døde. Hverken Spanien eller andre europæiske lande eller Europa-Kommissionen ville tage ansvaret, men skubbede det frem og tilbage. Det er derfor, vi har brug for en person, der har ansvaret, der er dyrevelfærdskommissær også af navn, for at vi kan ændre på dette fremover.
Derudover er jeg glad for alt det, som kommissæren taler om, nemlig al den nye lovgivning, som skal forbedre dyrevelfærden. Vi taler om ny lovgivning for transporter, ny lovgivning, der skal udfase bure, og en helt ny dyrevelfærdslov generelt set. Al den lovgivning har brug for nogen, der står bag den og håndhæver den og skubber på, sådan at det bliver en god lovgivning, også derfor har vi brug for en dyrevelfærdskommissær. Vi vil i Europa gå foran på dyrevelfærdsområdet. Det skal vi vise, og det kan vi gøre ved også at sørge for, at titlen dyrevelfærdskommissær gives til en af de kommissærer, som vi har. Det er ikke bare mig, der mener det. Der er 191 medlemmer af parlamentet her, der har skrevet under på det i "EU for Animals"-kampagnen, og der er 230000 mennesker, der har skrevet under på kampagnen her. Så jeg håber, at kommissionen vil sige lidt om, om den kan se formålet med at få en dyrevelfærdskommissær fremover.
Jérémy Decerle, au nom du groupe Renew. – Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, le bien-être des animaux, notamment d'élevage, est une attente citoyenne qu'il faut prendre au sérieux. C'est d'ailleurs aussi, n'en déplaise à certains, une préoccupation majeure des éleveurs. On n'en parle pas beaucoup, mais avant tout, les éleveurs aiment et chérissent leurs animaux et tous les acteurs de la filière n'ont aucun intérêt à travailler avec des animaux maltraités. Donc prendre un sujet au sérieux, ça peut vouloir dire lui donner une reconnaissance symbolique comme peut-être un commissaire dédié, mais cela veut surtout dire le traiter avec sérieux.
De mon expérience et de mon travail avec mes collègues des autres groupes sur le rapport que j'ai porté l'année dernière, je retiens notamment que les éleveurs, que nous faisons déjà beaucoup de bonnes choses en matière de bien-être animal et que, pour continuer à progresser, il faut le faire collectivement en se donnant des règles adaptées à chaque espèce – vous l'avez dit, Madame la Commissaire – que nous sommes capables de faire appliquer partout, de façon homogène en Europe et en se dotant enfin de moyens financiers dédiés et suffisants pour atteindre nos objectifs.
Il faut aussi que ces règles, pour qu'elles soient viables, soient conditionnées aussi aux normes des produits que nous importons en Europe. Donc, pour ceux qui seraient pressés de signer le Mercosur, il y a encore un petit peu de boulot pour qu'on adapte justement nos règles. Et puis enfin, il faut aussi qu'un étiquetage soit un peu mieux encadré. La DG Santé nous fera bientôt des propositions. J'espère qu'elles s'appuieront aussi sur des principes sérieux.
Francisco Guerreiro, em nome do Grupo Verts/ALE. – Senhor Presidente, tauromaquia. É esta a barbárie que define a profunda hipocrisia quando, nesta Câmara, falamos de bem—estar animal. Se, por um lado, o artigo 13.º do Tratado sobre o Funcionamento da União Europeia define os animais como seres sencientes e merecedores de proteção, no mesmo artigo vemos o esmagamento destes direitos em prol de supostas tradições dos Estados—Membros.
Relativamente à tauromaquia, a realidade é efetivamente perversa na União Europeia. Apesar de esta barbárie estar circunscrita a Portugal, França e Espanha, a Comissão Europeia esconde—se no artigo 13.º e inibe—se de travar a presença de menores em eventos tauromáquicos, recusa terminar com o financiamento destas atividades com dinheiro da Política Agrícola Comum e mantém—se em silêncio quando touros bravos são mortos no meio das arenas para o prazer sádico de quem assiste a esta aberração.
É tempo, assim, de a Comissão Europeia deixar de se esconder atrás dos Estados—Membros e de anunciar, aqui e agora, que a próxima revisão dos Tratados trará o fim da cruel, sádica e violenta indústria da tauromaquia.
Ангел Джамбазки, от името на групата ECR. – Г-н Председател, погледът Ви е красноречив и казва много. Уважаеми колеги, днес правим голям шлем по велики дебати, които провеждаме тук в Европейския парламент. Може би това е причината да сме около 19 човека в залата, точно 19 с мен тук на трибуната и председателя зад гърба ми. Може би фактът, че там в галерията има три пъти повече млади хора, е доста показателен за това с какво се занимаваме в момента.
Това, на което искам да ви обърна внимание обаче, е следното. Говорим си тук за някакви хубави неща, за хуманно отношение към животни и други такива неща. Обаче зад всичко това стоят регулации, и регулации, и регулации, които затрудняват производители и фермери, затрудняват хората, които работят някакъв истински бизнес, правят нещо истинско и се опитват да го продават. Чудя се, уважаеми колеги, уважаема г-жо Комисар, виждам, че поне имате слушалки, значи слушате превода, кога последно колегите, които се изказват по темата, бяха в магазин да си купят мляко, масло, яйца, пиле, някакви такива работи, тези, които не ядат нещо от соя и нещо пластмасово.
Заради тези регулации, уважаеми колеги, в Холандия (Нидерландия) закриват 3000 ферми. 3000 ферми закриват заради климатичния отпечатък. Холандия е държавата, която нетно изнася земеделска продукция втора в света, нетно, най-много. Холандия знаете колко е голяма и Щатите колко са големи. Това какво ви говори? Говори ни, че регулациите, с които се занимаваме ние тук в Европейския парламент, унищожават бизнеса, унищожават предприемачество, въвеждат безумни регулации, правят живота на производителите труден, защото някой е решил, че ще си говори за зелени сделки, въглероден отпечатък и други подобни неща, които нямат нищо общо с живия живот.
Съгласен съм, ако това беше нещо отделно, имаше някакъв отделен рай на хората, които ползват соя, и бяха оставили останалите да живеят, да произвеждат, да работят, да продават нормално. Виждам един колега, който много се забавлява на това, което казвам, но се надявам – да, да, да, да, да, Вие, колега. Много Ви се радвам. Може да ми зададете въпроса „синя карта“, натиснете си там бутона и поискайте въпрос със синя карта, ако желаете. Но тази цялата работа е смешна. Вижте колко хора има там в галерията и колко сме ние в залата. Това какво ви говори? Това на мен ми говори, че тук ние губим времето на тези хора. Навън има инфлация, има война, има истински проблеми. Тук им губим времето.
Virginie Joron, au nom du groupe ID. – Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues, 94%, c’est le pourcentage d’Européens estimant qu’il est important de protéger le bien-être des animaux d’élevage. Par ailleurs, 90% pensent qu’un label européen sur le bien-être animal serait utile pour informer les consommateurs. Enfin, 72% souhaitent obtenir des informations sur l’utilisation d’une méthode d’étourdissement des animaux lorsqu’ils achètent de la viande.
Pourtant, les préoccupations en matière de bien-être animal continuent d’être bafouées à grande échelle, soit par des méthodes et des traditions d’abattage importées, soit par des exigences purement économiques dans une course permanente à la réduction des coûts. On assiste à un réel dumping animal.
Face à la dérive ultralibérale et face à la radicalité écologiste que beaucoup défendent ici, nous proposons une approche alternative. Nous refusons les farines d’insectes pour l’alimentation du bétail et, d’ailleurs, pour les humains également. Nous refusons la viande artificielle ou synthétique. Nous voulons des abattoirs de proximité permettant un retour au localisme en mettant en place des politiques commerciales où les règles de bien-être animal qui s’appliquent au sein de l’Union européenne doivent s’appliquer à toute importation. Nous souhaitons une liste noire des pays tiers qui ne respectent pas nos normes. Nous refusons l’abattage sans étourdissement et l’importation de ce type de viande. Nous soutenons aussi l’idée d’un commissaire dédié à cette cause.
Enfin, donnez un rôle central aux citoyens, introduisez un système obligatoire d’étiquetage relatif au bien-être animal à l’échelle de l’Union européenne, afin que les consommateurs puissent décider eux-mêmes de ce qu’ils achètent et de ce qu’ils mangent.
Anja Hazekamp, namens de The Left-Fractie. – Voorzitter, mevrouw de commissaris, we hebben in Europa commissarissen voor financiën, industrie, landbouw, milieu, oceanen, visserij, gezondheid, maar nog steeds geen commissaris die zich volledig inzet voor het welzijn en de rechten van dieren. Dat is gek eigenlijk.
We houden in Europa miljarden dieren, opgepropt in stallen, in vrachtwagens, op schepen, in laboratoria, in dierentuinen, dolfinaria, circussen, arena’s, in winkels, op markten en in onze huizen. Maar ook de levens van dieren op het platteland, in de stad, in onze bossen, in de oceanen en de zeeën staan steeds meer onder druk. Waarom worden de rechten en het welzijn van deze dieren dan nog steeds niet erkend?
Het moment is nu. Nu de hele dierenwelzijnswetgeving op de schop gaat, eisen we een Eurocommissaris voor dierenwelzijn om voor eens en voor altijd een einde te maken aan het inconsistente beleid van de verschillende Eurocommissarissen en de bemoeienis van de Landbouwcommissie, die rechtstreeks gedicteerd wordt door de landbouwindustrie.
We staan aan de vooravond van grote veranderingen in de manier waarop we met dieren omgaan en ik kijk samen met miljoenen burgers uit naar de nieuwe ambitieuze voorstellen voor de nieuwe dierenwelzijnswetgevingen later dit jaar, met natuurlijk een verbod op het houden van dieren in kooien uiterlijk in 2027 en een verbod op de productie en de verkoop van bont in Europa.
En voorts ben ik van mening dat de Europese landbouwsubsidies moeten worden afgeschaft.
(De spreker aanvaardt een “blauwe kaart”-reactie)
Angel Dzhambazki (ECR), blue-card speech. – Dear colleague, are you seriously proposing to have a commissioner for the welfare of animals? Well, if we have a commissioner for animals, do we need to have one for the bees, for the goats, for the sheep? One commissioner for every animal in this way.
Anja Hazekamp (The Left), “blauwe kaart”-antwoord. – Ja, dank u wel voor deze vraag. Nee, natuurlijk niet. Bijen zijn ook dieren. Schapen zijn dieren. Als we één commissaris hebben voor dierenwelzijn kan die zorg dragen voor al die dieren die onder druk staan door het huidige landbouwsysteem. Wij zouden graag hebben dat het huidige voedselsysteem wordt herzien naar meer plantaardig, duurzamer en beter voor het dierenwelzijn. Eén commissaris kan al die problemen oplossen.
Michaela Šojdrová (PPE). – Pane předsedající, podmínky zvířat v Evropské unii, tedy hospodářských zvířat, nejsou optimální a v některých případech jsou skutečně tristní. Například klecové chovy nosnic já osobně považuji za určitý způsob týrání. Je to neudržitelný stav, a proto také občané, spotřebitelé, kteří jsou si toho vědomi, vyzvali k ukončení klecových chovů. Byl zde zmíněn ten vysoký počet, více než 1400000 občanů EU se přihlásilo k této výzvě. Evropský parlament na ni reagoval a my tyto požadavky podporujeme. Vy jste sama zmínila, že Evropská komise počítá s novou legislativou. My jsme vyzvali, abychom ji měli na stole do konce roku 2023. A zákaz klecí pro hospodářská zvířata by měl být uplatňován od roku 2027. Nejde jen o zvířata, ale také o férový vnitřní trh. Jde o to, že z třetích zemí jsou dovážena zvířata, která jsou chována za jiných standardů. A potřebujeme k tomu také finanční investice s cílem podpořit naše zemědělce.
Billy Kelleher (Renew). – MrPresident, I welcome the comments of the Commissioner and the reviews that are being carried out by the Commission into the issue of animal welfare in the area of housing, transport and slaughter.
Of course, we have regulations already, but we have simply failed to ensure that they were enforced across Member States, so any regulations that we bring forward in terms of the review must have Member State enforcement and sanctions against Member States who fail to enforce.
There’s no doubt the European Union has high standards, global standards, and I certainly believe that, in terms of trade discussions, negotiations across the globe, that the issue of animal welfare and globalized standards have to be taken into account when we are formalising trade deals. Citizens and consumers demand the highest welfare standards. It is in the interests of farmers and primary producers to ensure that they are producing food with the highest standards available to them.
We also have to take into account food security, we have to take into account how we produce our food, the local traditions, but equally and importantly, we have an obligation. Animals are sentient beings recognised by the Treaties, and we must ensure that we have standards appropriate to our welfare.
(The speaker agreed to respond to a blue-card speech)
Bogdan Rzońca (ECR), wystąpienie zasygnalizowane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Wysłuchałem uważnie Pana wystąpienia i chciałem zwrócić uwagę i zapytać w zasadzie o jeden aspekt tej całej sprawy dobrostanu zwierząt. Mianowicie jestem przekonany, że właściciele zwierząt szanują swoje zwierzęta, hodowcy szanują swoje zwierzęta, ale jest problem w transporcie. Czy mamy wiedzę, czy mamy instrumenty do sprawdzania, jako Unia Europejska, co się dzieje ze zwierzętami w trakcie transportu? Czy tu mamy informacje?
Billy Kelleher (Renew), blue-card reply. – I sat on that Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport and we have made our report and our recommendations. I believe that we can improve animal welfare standards during transport. Technologies are there, and they should be part of that process. But, overall, enforcement is where we need to take it to ensure that animals are protected during transport. But transport is a critical component in the farming of animals as well.
Pär Holmgren (Verts/ALE). – Mr President, Commissioner, sadly it’s been difficult to get a majority to agree that animal welfare really needs to be a higher priority on our agenda, and we are still fighting to get a resolution on this issue.
As Greens, we would like to see animal welfare in the title of an EU commissioner, or even a dedicated commissioner for animal welfare. Because there is so much work left to do and high expectations from civil society: End the Cage Age, Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics, Stop Finning and, just recently, Fur Free Europe. There’s millions of citizens that want to see concrete and EU-wide action as soon and as ambitious as possible.
So, dear Commissioner, I’m expecting and will support an ambitious proposal for the revision of the EU animal welfare legislation. And I’m also asking you to really take these different citizen initiatives to heart, as you have done before, for the animals and for the citizens.
Joachim Kuhs (ID). – Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin, werte Kollegen! Bereits der weise König Salomo sagte in der Bibel: „Der Gerechte kümmert sich um sein Vieh.“ Damals, vor 3000 Jahren, war das auch noch einfach. Da hatte jeder seine Kuh, sein Schaf und seine Ziege im Stall, und es war ein ureigenes Interesse jedes Bauern, sich um das Wohlergehen seiner Tiere zu kümmern. Was Kollege Rzońca sagte, ist da ganz wichtig. Sonst hätte er auch nichts zu essen gehabt und auch nichts verkaufen können.
Auch ich bin auf einem Bauernhof aufgewachsen, und ich habe ab und zu als kleines Kind die frische Milch direkt aus dem Euter der Kuh in den Mund gespritzt bekommen. Das waren noch Zeiten! Heute ist das alles nicht mehr vorstellbar, denn die Bauernhöfe werden ja heute wie Fabriken geführt. Das einzelne Tier ist nur noch eine Recheneinheit, und die Bürokratie der EU verunmöglicht das Kümmern um das Vieh.
Werte Kollegen, wenn es uns aber nicht gelingt, die natürliche Beziehung des Menschen zu den ihm anvertrauten Mitgeschöpfen zurückzugewinnen, dann nützen alle sicher gut gemeinten Vorschläge und Verpflichtungen zum Tierwohl nichts.
Clare Daly (The Left). – A Uachtaráin, mar a dúirt George Bernard Shaw,
‘The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity’.
Ní bheidh onnmhaireoirí ainmhithe beo riamh in ann an cúram cuí a thabhairt dá n-ainmhithe, ós rud é gur féidir le turas maireachtáil ar feadh roinnt laethanta, nó míonna, fiú.
Ní féidir linn brath ar na rialacha atá againn faoi láthair, mar go ndéanann na hiompróirí neamhaird ar na rialacha sin nuair a fhágann siad an t-Aontas Eorpach.
Is mór an scannal agus an náire é nach bhfuil ach sé faoin gcéad den ocht mbád is seachtó atá ceadaithe san Aontas Eorpach saintógtha chun ainmhithe a iompar.
I gcomhthéacs an athbhreithnithe a dhéanfar i mbliana ar reachtaíocht a bhaineann le leas ainmhithe, ba chóir go mbeadh cosc iomlán ar ainmhithe beo a iompar ar thurais fhada, agus deireadh le hiompar gach ainmhí nach bhfuil scoite.
Agus, go ginearálta, caithfimid laghdú suntasach a dhéanamh ar an méid feola a ithimid ar mhaithe leis an aeráid agus ar mhaithe leis na hainmhithe.
Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, a Mhairéad, tá tú anseo go fóill, bail ó Dhia ort.
Agus mar fhocal scoir, comhghairdeas le Clare Daly, as labhairt as Gaeilge agus Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh uilig amárach.
Míle buíochas.
So the recently published staff working document on the fitness check of the animal welfare legislation is an important step in the ongoing review of the animal welfare legislation. New legislative proposals must use the most up-to-date scientific knowledge, and it was good to hear Commissioner McGuinness say that is the intention for forthcoming legislation.
The EU has had high standards in its animal welfare practice for over 40 years. Improving animal welfare results in better animal health and consequently can help safeguard biodiversity. Ireland has made significant progress in this regard. Good animal welfare is an integral part of beef farming, and Irish farmers have been exemplary in maintaining this practice.
I would also like to highlight that it should be recognised that significant financial supports will be required to facilitate new animal welfare requirements. Animal welfare can be best guaranteed when farmers have the right tools and financial incentives.
Agus mar fhocal scoir, comhghairdeas le Clare Daly, as labhairt as Gaeilge agus Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh uilig amárach.
Caroline Roose (Verts/ALE). – Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, le sujet de la condition animale est une des priorités des citoyennes et des citoyens européens. Une minute, c’est court, donc j’aimerais me concentrer sur les grands oubliés des politiques de bien-être animal, les animaux aquatiques.
Depuis une dizaine d’années, la connaissance scientifique à leur sujet a fait un bond spectaculaire. Aujourd’hui, on sait que les poissons ont des capacités mentales qui n’ont rien à envier à celles des oiseaux et des mammifères. Pourtant, on continue à exhiber et à maltraiter des dauphins et des orques dans les delphinariums. On laisse se développer en Espagne un projet de ferme aquacole de poulpes, alors que ce sont des animaux d’une grande intelligence, d’une grande sensibilité et qui ne supportent pas la promiscuité. On encourage et on finance massivement le développement de l’aquaculture en Europe avant même d’avoir adopté les règles de protection animale concernant l’élevage, l’abattage et le transport des animaux aquatiques.
La Commission ignore totalement la question du bien-être animal dans le secteur de la pêche. Alors que des aménagements mineurs permettraient d’éviter des souffrances inutiles. Nous n’entendons pas les poissons crier, mais ils souffrent. Si la Commission n’agit pas, c’est parce qu’il y a un manque de coordination et de leadership politique sur le sujet. C’est pour cela qu’on demande la création d’un commissaire chargé de la condition animale.
Spontane Wortmeldungen
Jiří Pospíšil (PPE). – Pane předsedající, jsem přesvědčen, že životní podmínky zvířat v Evropě nejsou dobré. To je realita. Můžeme hovořit o standardech, ale realita je taková, že mnoho zvířat v Evropě trpí v hospodářských chovech, a my bychom měli prosadit alespoň dvě základní věci, o kterých zde bylo hovořeno. Zákaz klecových chovů. Je to věc, která byla zmiňována a která by strašně pomohla. A pak omezení přepravy živých zvířat. To téma zde permanentně debatujeme. Já sám jsem svědkem devět let trvající debaty o omezení přepravy zvířat a stále nejsme schopni se dohodnout na tom, aby ta lhůta byla stanovena třeba na čtyři hodiny. To je velký problém. A pokud bychom prosadili alespoň tyto dva kroky, uděláme obrovský posun pro práva zvířat. Také podporuji zřízení komisaře, který bude mít tuto agendu. Paní komisařko, my jsme teď vPraze, v České republice, kde jsem komunálním politikem, zřídili radního, který má na starosti práva zvířat, welfare zvířat v Praze. Udělejme to tedy pro celou Evropskou unii, ať jeden člověk má tato téma na starosti.
Juozas Olekas (S&D). – Gerbiamas pirmininke, gerbiama Komisijos narė, iš tikrųjų sveikinu Jūsų pastangas pagerinti gyvūnų gerovę. Man teko pačiam dirbti specialiajame komitete dėl gyvūnų transportavimo. Nagrinėjant sąlygas, iš tikrųjų mes matėme visą eilę problemų, kurios egzistuoja, ir manau, kad Jūsų pasiūlytas subalansuotas teisių pasiūlymas tikrai galėtų prisidėti prie to, kad gyvūnų gerovė transportuojant gyvūnus būtų užtikrinta tiek sausumos keliais, tiek jūrų keliais. Jūs paminėjote, kad labai svarbu atsižvelgti į socialines, ekonomines realybes ir taip pat žaliojo kurso įgyvendinimą, kurį mes esame užsibrėžę. Tačiau aš noriu paklausti labai specifinį klausimą – mes turime gyvūnus, tai yra kailinius žvėrelius, kurių laikymo sąlygos taip pat yra labai svarbios ir rūpi. Ar šiame pakete tas pasiūlymas dėl kailinių žvėrelių jau bus? Ar jūs specialiai paruošite atskirą paketą dėl kailinių žvėrelių?
Mick Wallace (The Left). – Mr President, animal welfare is an issue that cuts across many aspects of agriculture, sustainability and general public health. So, welfare standards are key to the ‘farm to fork’ strategy and ultimately the Green Deal.
Animal welfare contributes to the improvement of animal health and therefore food quality in Europe. The current legislation is simply not fit for purpose and is also not being implemented properly. I too believe that having a department of the Commission responsible for animal welfare would certainly elevate the importance of the issue.
Small farmers competing in highly competitive global markets against big agri industry, under pressure to decrease costs, need a better incentive to comply with better animal welfare practices. Better rural development programmes would improve farm animal welfare on this front. Any narrow-based policy won’t fix the implementation problems and will actually increase the vulnerability of farmers. We do need a much more holistic approach in general to the whole area.
(Ende der spontanen Wortmeldungen)
Mairead McGuinness,Member of the Commission. – Mr President, thank you, colleagues, for what has been a very lively debate, as I had anticipated. I think your commitment to animal welfare is well known in this House.
In relation to who looks after animal welfare, I really want to assure Members that this issue of animal welfare is at the very heart of the work of my colleague Stella Kyriakides within this Commission. Because the issues before us on animal welfare are very varied. Colleagues alluded to a need for more enforcement of existing legislation, and indeed new legislation will also be required as the demands of society intensify.
At the same time, as we move forward with new proposals, we know that upgrading EU animal welfare rules will require investment by farmers and others in the food supply chain. So, for that reason, we have to be balanced and have sufficient transition periods.
We also need to provide assistance to farmers from existing EU financial instruments, and I want to assure the House that the Commission, across its different services, is working hard to make the upcoming legislative proposals as ambitious and realistic as possible. Because, as was mentioned, we do need holistic legislation implemented and supported by all stakeholders. As part of this, we are performing a thorough impact assessment of the policy options before any decision is made. Hopefully, this will also help the European Ϸվ and the Council reach a well-founded agreement.
Once adopted, the new legislation will cement the European Union’s role as a world leader in animal welfare. When it is applied, the rules will improve the lives of billions of animals in the European Union and elsewhere. After that, it is up to us together to make sure that EU rules for animal welfare remain fit for the future. As I come from a farming background, I think it is also right that we acknowledge those farmers who do a really good job caring for their animals. Those farmers who would have been up during the night lambing and looking after calves. And I think this House acknowledges the role of those farmers who abide by and are committed to animal welfare.
Mr President, if I am not breaking a rule, I join Seán Kelly in wishing all of you a happy Saint Patrick’s Day. I am wearing the green, as you can see. Very subtle. Please join in the Irish celebrations on what is always a most joyous day. And thank you for this excellent debate.