Animal Welfare Commissioner must demonstrate more concrete commitment

The Eurogroup for Animals welcomes certain aspects of the candidate’s responses to questions on animal welfare, but emphasises that far more ambitious measures and concrete commitments are required to improve the lives of all animals in Europe, and that the wishes of citizens who demand the EU do much more in this regard must be respected.

In his responses, candidate Várhelyi promised to work towards a policy that “leaves no one behind and creates the conditions for truly inclusive health and animal welfare systems that meet the needs of both people and animals.”

Encouraging approaches, but insufficient ambition

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the commitment to modernise animal welfare legislation in line with the latest scientific findings and to implement the ECI «End the Cage Age» through the gradual abolition of animal cages.

However, the responses fall far short of being sufficiently ambitious. The candidate does not address a clear timetable for the revision of legislation; there is a lack of comprehensive species-specific regulations, a ban on fur farms, plans for a transition to animal-testing-free science, measures to combat illegal pet trade, animal welfare standards for imported products, an EU-wide positive list for pets, and the creation of a food environment that makes healthy and sustainable diets widely available and affordable. Animal welfare requires binding commitments, not merely declarations of intent.

Despite the introduction of animal welfare in the commissioner's title — a development that was widely welcomed — animal welfare was barely mentioned in the mission letter (just one of 14 points).

Demand for concrete timelines

Since animal welfare is already part of the title of his office, we expect more ambition from candidate Várhelyi. After decades of new scientific findings and emphatic demands from citizens, we urgently need more concrete commitments and timelines that ensure better standards for all animals in the EU, leaving no one behind. We call on Members of the European Parliament to represent the demands of citizens and to demand concrete answers during the hearing. – Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

In response, Eurogroup for Animals sent an ideal mission letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in September, detailing the missing priorities. Members of the European Parliament are invited to sign the mission letter at an event that Eurogroup for Animals will hold together with GAIA in the week of 4 November in the European Parliament. The Animal rights in the EU remain a fiercely contested field.