WRITTEN QUESTION No. 62/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Abuse of animals in Spain
Date: 1998-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: Spain, animal welfare, bull, competence of the Member States, customs and traditions, leisure, poultry, protection of animals, swine

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/99

(98/C 223/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0062/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Abuse of animals in Spain

Is  the  Commission  aware  of  an  article  in  the  Spanish  magazine  (cid:145)Quo(cid:146),  No  24  of  2  September  1997,  which
indicated that in Spain each year 300 (cid:145)cultural events(cid:146) take place in which animals are abused, tortured and killed
for the entertainment of the Spanish public (see annex).

This article quotes the following examples:

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

the (cid:145)toro embolado(cid:146) where the horns of bulls are set on fire, with the eyes and skin also being burnt;

ritual slaughter of pigs: the pig is held by a number of men and, after a hook has been fastened through the
snout, it is slit by the slaughterer. The animal runs around until it bleeds to death;

In Nalda, Rioja, cocks are hung up by their feet and their heads cut off by young men from the village.
Following public protests dead cocks are now used.

In Coria, Ca·ceres, the bull of San Juan runs through the village for hours with arrows being shot at it through
blow pipes until the animal is covered with blood. Later in the square all types of pointed objects are stuck
into it. Finally it is killed with a pistol and its testicles are cut off.

In Zamora the (cid:145)Manganese(cid:146) goat is thrown down from the clock tower of the church. In 1991 there was an
attempt to ban this practice but in the end two goats were actually thrown down. A fine of PTA 100 000 was
imposed. Goats are still thrown, but a safety net is now spread so that the animals do not hit the ground.

Does the Commission not consider that such abuse of animals has no place in a cultured country which belongs
to the European Union?

Is the Commission willing, on the basis of the article on the protection of animals in the Treaty of Amsterdam, to
draw up European legislation against such cruelty to animals or is the Commission willing to take some other
action to halt these practices?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 1998)

The  Commission  has  stated  on  many  occasions  that  it  deplores  all  types  of  cruelty  to  animals.  However,
Community  competence  in  this  domain  is  limited  and  Community  legislation  exists  only  in  the  sphere  of
protection of animals on farms, in laboratories, at slaughter and during transport.

The animal welfare protocol to the Treaty of Amsterdam underlines the importance of animal welfare but stresses
that  cultural  traditions  and  regional  heritage  should  continue  to  be  respected.  These  latter  aspects,  therefore,
remain purely within the national domain.

(98/C 223/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0065/98

by Francesco Baldarelli (PSE) to the Commission

(15 January 1998)

Subject: Witholding of FIFG funds for new constructions and modernization

At the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries(cid:146) working group on fleet structures on 17 December 1997,
the Commision representative, Mr Samaras, presented the Commission document on the adoption of the Fourth
Multi-annual Guidance Programme (MGP IV).

That  document  showed  that  the  Commission  had  no  intention  of  granting  any  aid  for  the  construction  or
modernization of vessels to Member States that had not met the fleet reduction objectives set by MGP III.