Debate: Protection of animals during transport - Protection of animals during transport
Date: THURSDAY, 20 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Stella Kyriakides
Language: EN

I carefully listened to each of your interventions, and I have taken note of your concerns. I will address as many as I can. Mr Mortler and Ms Wiśniewska – I apologise for the pronunciation – mentioned the importance of implementation of existing rules, and I totally agree with you. Ms Avram said that we need to review the legislation and used the words: ‘We need to find the right balance’.  Mr Kelleher and Mr Waitz, we are collectively trying to bring animal welfare to the forefront of our priorities. I have already assured you of that and I totally agree we need to base our decisions on science, taking everything into account. A number of MEPs, Mr Dorfmann, Ms Aguilera, Mr Christensen and Mr Wiezik spoke about exactly the same thing: the need for implementation of science and that many problems of the current legislation concern implementation.  And Ms Conte, I totally agree with you that we need a common EU database to record the results of official controls.  Ms Metz, we are not waiting for 2023 to tackle some of the points that you have highlighted. We are already working on measures to be adopted early this year and I agree with you, the issues are urgent.  Mr Zoido Álvarez mentioned the need for legislation to proceed on the basis of evidence and knowledge and thorough impact assessments as those that are distributed across society, the economy and the environment. And then Ms Guteland, I agree with you on the need for checks and controls.  Mr Hojsík spoke of the need to change. I said this already in my introductory remarks, and I cannot but mention Mr Durand, who said ‘the winds of change’. We can find a balance reflecting clear public demand to improve the quality of life for animals, gathering knowledge on all the key issues and doing it in the right way. Ms Hazekamp spoke of the need for a review of the Animal Transport Regulation, and I just want to say that the review of that regulation will cover all relevant species, will take vulnerable animals into account – including unweaned calves as well as pregnant animals, and we will take the recommendations very seriously in our review.  Mr Waitz, I just want to say that we are working on new legislation expected to be adopted in mid-2022 to harmonise and strengthen the inspections of livestock vessels, including the use of an EU database, and it will also cover, as I have said, some of the recommendations tabled by the ANIT Committee, such as teams of inspectors. Delegated acts on animal transport by sea will already come to the European Parliament during this year.  And Mr Markey, I totally agree with you on the use of technology, the development and the use of digital tools to facilitate enforcement.  And last but not least, Ms Wiesner on auditing the Member States regarding livestock transport: our audit plans foresee the auditing of several Member States with regards to transport of livestock vessels. These audits will examine controls on livestock vessels, inspection and the appropriateness of enforcement action when non-compliance is detected, and authorisation of sea transporters.  I have tried to cover as many of the points as possible, and I will just say in conclusion that I want to stress again two issues.  First, the importance that this Commission attaches to animal welfare. And second, the great responsibility we feel towards upholding the welfare of animals, as well as towards our farmers, our citizens and society in general.  We are fully aware of the complexities of transporting live animals, particularly to non-EU countries, which many of you mentioned. For this reason, it’s particularly important that we build robust legislation that protects animals, prevents suffering, but is also easy to implement and enforce, and that is based on the latest scientific advice and on the outcomes of our consultation activities.  So as we work towards our legislative proposal in 2023, we will continue to work on enforcing the current legislation, with particular emphasis on the issues that have been raised and have been found to be problematic in the transport of live animals, and that the ANIT Committee has highlighted in its thorough and lengthy investigations.  The work foreseen during this legislative revision is a worthy investment in a more sustainable future for our society and I believe we will meet the demands that European citizens have in ensuring a better life for animals.  I am convinced that the European Parliament shares this view, as the ANIT Committee’s excellent work demonstrates, and is ready to support our efforts to deliver a legislative revision for the future.  I apologise, Madam President, for taking twice the time that I was allotted, but there were over 50 interventions and I believe that our role here is to listen and to answer as many as possible of the interventions of the honourable Members of the European Parliament.