B4-1465, 1466, 1467, 1482, 1487 and 1490/95

Resolution on leghold traps

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 17 February 1989 on the harmonization of legislation within the European Community on the manufacture, sale and use of the leghold trap ((OJ C 69, 20.3.1989, p. 198.)),

- having regard to its opinion of 10 September 1990 on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the importation of certain furs ((OJ C 260, 15.10.1990, p. 18.)),

- having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 of 4 November 1991 banning the use of leghold traps within the Community after 1 January 1995 ((OJ L 308, 9.11.1991, p. 1.)),

- having heard the statement made by the Commission on this subject,

A. considering the cruel pain that animals suffer when they are caught in leghold traps,

B. whereas Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 provides for an import ban in respect of pelts and other products from thirteen species of fur-bearing animal by 1 January 1995 unless the Commission has certified that individual countries are exempt from the ban on the grounds that they have already prohibited the use of the leghold trap, or adopted internationally agreed humane trapping standards for the species listed,

C. whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1771/94 of 19 July 1994 ((OJ L 184, 20.7.1994, p. 3.)) already extended the date of the entry into force of the import ban until 1 January 1996, while providing a deadline of 1 September 1995 for Commission decisions relating to exempted countries and forms for certification,

D. aware that over 60 countries have already banned the use of the leghold trap,

E. aware that no internationally agreed humane trapping standards have been found so far in spite of considerable efforts undertaken to this end by the technical committee of the Geneva-based International Standardisation Organization,

F. aware that discussions regarding internationally agreed humane trapping standards should also take into consideration the views of aboriginal people who are themselves engaged in trapping,

G. recalling that Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 aims to ban imports into the European Union of the furs of species caught by cruel trapping methods and should under no circumstances be applied to hunting for food,

H. noting that the Commission has announced its intention to put forward a proposal to amend Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 once again, thus proposing to rescind or suspend the import provisions provided for in this Regulation,

1. Reaffirms its support for Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91;

2. Stresses again that the Regulation cannot be amended without prior consultation of the European Parliament and that in the absence of any legal change to this Regulation it will come into force on 1 January 1996;

3. Insists that any such proposals or any other proposals by the Commission to amend existing Community legislation in respect of leghold traps, including any proposals for exemptions, must respect the right of the European Parliament to be consulted on the basis of Article 130s of the EC Treaty;

4. Strongly deplores the fact that the Commission has not adopted any implementing rules for this Regulation so far, even though Regulation (EC) No. 1771/94 sets a clear deadline of 1 September 1995 for this undertaking;

5. Instructs its President to take the necessary measures to evaluate the advisability of taking the Commission to the Court of Justice according to Article 175;

6. Equally regrets that the Commission has only decided to put forward a proposal to amend Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 at a time when there is almost no time left before the entry into force of the existing regulation; reminds the Commission that decision-making processes within the European Union, including the proper consultation of the European Parliament, require a minimum amount of time which, due to the incomprehensible inactivity of the Commission on this issue, is no longer available before the said Regulation comes into force;

7. Calls on the Commission to produce a study from international, independent experts to assess the real economic damage from this import ban for the native peoples in North America;

8. Asks the Commission to draw up, together with these native peoples in North America, projects to provide them with environmentally sustainable economic possibilities;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Canadian and US governments and representatives of the native peoples of North America.