unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Nikolina Brnjac
Language: EN

The main difficulty relates to the abuse of the so-called ‘pet travel scheme’, the rapid development of online sales of companion animals and the risk associated with these activities. Indeed, we all know that illegal trade in pets may have negative consequences, not only in terms of public health and consumer protection, but also for animal welfare and animal health. I agree that this situation requires our full attention, and I can assure you that the Member States are fully aware of this problem. At the end of 2018, 17 Member States participated in an EU-coordinated control plan on the online sales of dogs and cats in order to gain insight into practices in this field. It turned out that a high percentage of the animals offered for sale was non-compliant. This confirmed the clear need to strengthen controls. I agree that identification and traceability of cats and dogs are key elements in this respect. The existing EU legislation already requires pet animals which are moved between Member States or imported into the EU to be marked. In addition, the new regulation on animal health and official controls offers further tools to fight illegal trade. Proper enforcement of the existing rules is of crucial importance. This is primarily the responsibility of the Commission and the Member States. I should also mention that since the adoption of the new regulation on animal health and official controls, the Council working party of Chief Veterinary Officers has intensively discussed how to better fight illegal trade in companion animals. These discussions highlighted the complexity of the problem and the need for continued cooperation between all competent authorities, including among Member States. We expect these discussions to continue within the Working Group on e—commerce that the Commission has established, as well as within the voluntary initiative group of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare devoted to the health and welfare of pets in trade. Finally, I would like to remind you that the Council, in its recent conclusions on animal welfare, has encouraged the Commission and the Member States to continue their work on the effective enforcement of the existing animal welfare legislation. The Council has also invited the Commission to assess the need for the impact of the possible new legislation.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Stella Kyriakides
Language: EN

EU rules cover cross-border trade in cats and dogs. Clear rules apply to both commercial and non-commercial movements and cover both animals moved within the EU and also those entering from the outside. These rules are mainly designed to protect animal health and prevent the spread of animal diseases, especially rabies. They also ensure any dogs and cats entering the EU or moved between countries are properly identified and vaccinated. Where illegal trade in cats and dogs is identified, it is therefore not due to a lack of legislation but because the legislation that is in place is not properly enforced by the Member States, and this is where we need to invest a lot more energy. In recent years we have tried to strengthen the legal framework to help Member States tackle illegal trade. The new Animal Health Law, which comes into force in April 2021, has made important changes. Firstly, it requires compulsory registration of all establishments breeding dogs and cats, and all transporters who take dogs and cats between Member States. Secondly, it obliges Member States to improve all shelters and assembly centres from which dogs and cats are moved to other Member States. These new measures will help to control trade of companion animals in a better way, and we consider that they are sufficient for tackling illegal trade. But again, it is crucial that these rules are properly applied and enforced, and for this we have taken several actions in Member States. The first of these is the EU coordinated control plan on the online sale of dogs and cats, this in order to give Member States insight into fraudulent practices and encourage them to control the online market more effectively. And the second is the voluntary initiative launched in the framework of the EU Animal Welfare Platform: the sub-group on health and welfare of pets, and this involves all relevant stakeholders and provides guidelines to ensure better animal health and welfare for companion animals. Thirdly, and finally: training provided for national authorities via the Better Training for Safer Food initiative, which encourages best practices to control imports and trade of dogs and cats. One element the new rules do not cover is the development of interconnected databases, and I believe that this is a question of proportionality. We consider that this would be disproportionate to the animal health risk without a clear indication of EU added value. We will, however – and I want to be clear on this – monitor the situation closely, continue working with Member States and stakeholders to ensure the illegal trade in cats and dogs in the EU is brought to an end.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Sylwia Spurek
Political group: S-D
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

We call on the Commission for stricter rules on the identification and registration of cats and dogs, as well as the registration and licensing of all breeders and sellers. The systems for registration shall be interconnected among the Member States also to secure online trading, since 80% of the whole illegal trade is online trade. Last but not least, more public awareness campaigns should be carried out to inform citizens about the negative effects of the illegal trade in companion animals and the importance of purchasing only companion animals that have been bred, kept and traded in a responsible manner and with due concern for animal welfare. Moreover, we call on the Member States to carry out more information and awareness-raising campaigns to encourage adopting, rather than buying, companion animals. If more people adopted pets instead of buying, or at least did better research on animal breeders, illegal traders would see their business slowly diminish.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Martin Hojsík
Political group: Renew
Country: Finland
Language: EN

There is a new phenomenon that is now dominating the entire trade, and that’s the online platforms. And that’s what makes it even more of a European problem. That’s why we need the European Commission to step up its efforts and to really provide proper guidance for identification and registration of animals across the borders, and for the Member States to actually start properly implementing and enforcing the regulation that’s out there, especially the animal health law. Because what we face is a crisis, and what we need is action, not words.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Marco Dreosto
Political group: ID
Country: Bulgaria
Language: IT

Secondo la Coldiretti, ci sono in Italia oltre 400 000 cuccioli di cani e gatti vittime dei trafficanti, per un giro di affari di circa 300 milioni di euro l'anno. Recentemente, la polizia italiana nel Friuli Venezia Giulia ha sgominato vere e proprie bande che trafficavano cuccioli provenienti dall'Est Europa, trasportati in condizioni orribili, strappati anzitempo alle loro madri.  Serve quindi una risoluzione che preveda un sistema di identificazione obbligatorio e l'inasprimento delle sanzioni, al fine di contrastare efficacemente la deprecabile pratica del commercio illegale dei cuccioli. Ben venga quindi il regolamento, ma è soprattutto necessaria la cooperazione transfrontaliera tra le autorità doganali dei paesi europei per combattere questo traffico illegale che fa così male a noi, ma molto di più ai nostri cari amici a quattro zampe.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Francisco Guerreiro
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: PT

Esta diferença de preços entre os vários países tem exponenciado o comércio ilegal de cães e de gatos na União Europeia. Este mercado negro incentiva, assim, os criadores ilegais a transportarem estes animais até aos países onde a sua venda é mais rentável. Mas este sistema, doentio e ilegal, que altera as idades e falsifica os boletins de vacinação destes animais, apenas é possível devido à ausência de um registo comunitário de criadores certificados.  Acrescem a esta omissão comunitária as condições deploráveis e ilegais em que estes animais são transportados dentro do espaço comunitário. E para travarmos este comércio ilegal a União Europeia tem que criar legislação que obrigue os Estados-Membros a garantirem registos oficiais de todos os animais de companhia, mas não só. Este sistema só será eficaz se as bases de dados nacionais poderem ser cruzadas a nível supranacional dentro da União Europeia. A conclusão para nós é clara: qualquer lei nacional sem um sistema de registo europeu falhará.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Anja Hazekamp
Political group: GUE/NGL
Country: Germany
Language: NL

Mevrouw de commissaris, wist u dat in Ierland windhonden drugs en steroïden krijgen om te presteren op de renbaan, waardoor zij aan het einde van het seizoen tandeloos en verzwakt zijn? Wist u dat in Spanje galgo’s die gebruikt worden voor de jacht, worden gestraft door aan bomen te worden opgehangen tot ze uitgeput stikken? Wist u dat in veel Oost-Europese landen zwerfhonden in brand worden gestoken of gevoerd worden met antivries of gebroken glas? Wist u dat in heel Europa zwerfkatten worden vergiftigd, doodgeschoten, dat hun staarten worden uitgetrokken, oren worden afgeknipt of hele nestjes worden verdronken? Wist u dat voor de malafide puppyhandel puppy’s worden gefokt in grote schuren, waarna ze via internet worden verkocht? Mevrouw de commissaris, deze handel moet keihard worden aangepakt. Puppyschuren moeten voor eens en voor altijd worden verboden. Daarnaast moeten alle honden en katten verplicht worden gechipt en geregistreerd, moeten er meer controles zijn en moet er zwaarder worden gestraft, zeker voor het vervalsen van paspoorten en chips. Er moet een einde komen aan deze georganiseerde criminaliteit en aan dit dierenleed.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Eleonora Evi
Political group: NI
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, chi acquista un cucciolo non vuole certo finanziare il terzo crimine organizzato più lucrativo in Europa, preceduto solamente da traffico di droga e di armi. Chi acquista un cucciolo non vuole certamente che migliaia di cani e gatti siano strappati precocemente alle loro madri e costretti a viaggi infernali in cui talvolta soltanto la metà arriva vivo a destinazione. Eppure questo è ciò che accade a moltissimi ignari cittadini europei che acquistano un animale tramite alcuni annunci online o senza effettuare i dovuti controlli. Questo incubo deve finire e la soluzione è a portata di mano.  Serve un sistema obbligatorio di identificazione e registrazione che sia armonizzato a livello europeo, che permetta la creazione di banche dati nazionali che siano interconnesse tra di loro così da rendere possibile una piena tracciabilità degli animali. Serve anche inasprire le sanzioni e i controlli, punire severamente, non solo chi traffica animali, ma anche veterinari e le autorità che si rendono complici di questo business.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Pascal Arimont
Political group: PPE
Country: Belgium
Language: DE

Frau Präsidentin,  sehr geehrte Frau Kommissarin, sehr geehrte Frau Ratsvertreterin! Wer kennt sie nicht? Den Hund oder die Katze als treuen Begleiter. Ich selbst komme von einem kleinen Bauernhof, wo man sehr würdevoll und sehr natürlich mit Tieren umging und umgeht. Tiere können nicht für sich sprechen, deswegen müssen wir das hier tun, und viele Hunde und Katzen werden in Europa nicht artgerecht behandelt. Illegaler Handel mit diesen Tieren floriert, oftmals unter sehr schrecklichen Bedingungen. An der Gesundheit und artgerechten Haltung der Tiere wird gespart, damit zusätzlicher Profit geschaffen wird. Wir müssen etwas tun. Vier Maßnahmen schlage ich vor: Erstens, wir müssen die Kontrollen in den Mitgliedsstaaten verschärfen, das ist Mitgliedstaatskompetenz, nicht Kommissionskompetenz, dessen bin ich mir bewusst. Wir brauchen aber einheitliche Standards im Tierschutz. Drittens, wir brauchen ein einheitliches europaweites Registrierungssystem sowie verknüpfte Datenbanken; und viertens, wir brauchen bessere Regulierung im Internethandel. In Wallonien – dort, wo ich herkomme – gibt es diese Maßnahmen, dort hat man ein Gesetz gemacht, mit dem man den Onlinehandel reguliert, das kann man zum Vorbild nehmen, dann geht es den Tieren vielleicht ein Stück besser.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Tudor Ciuhodaru
Political group: S-D
Country: Spain
Language: RO

Doamna președintă, vorbim despre o problemă extrem de importantă, atât prin amploare, cât și prin gravitate. Eu sunt medic de urgență în Iași, România, Spitalul Clinic de Urgență „Nicolae Oblu” și consider, doamna comisar, la fel ca și dumneavoastră, că viața fiecărei ființe trebuie protejată.  Pe de o parte, cruzimea față de animale este inacceptabilă și cred că aici trebuie să venim cu măsuri mult mai dure. În România deja am depus un proiect în plenul parlamentului României prin care cruzimea față de animale este pedepsită cu ani grei de închisoare și aici sugerez că poate fi înăsprită legislația care condamnă acest fenomen. În al doilea rând, vorbim de o problemă importantă de sănătate publică și mai ales în contextul noilor îngrijorări legate de răspândirea bolilor infecțioase, mai ales că acum vorbim despre Coronavirus, cred că acest lucru trebuie făcut și la nivel european.  Așa că din punctul meu de vedere, trei lucruri clare trebuie făcute, chiar dacă aici vorbim despre politici de subsidiaritate. O legislație unitară la nivel european, o mai mare fermitate în ceea ce privește condamnarea celor care fac acest comerț ilegal și în al treilea rând, educație făcută la nivel european pentru a proteja viața acestor ființe.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Jan Huitema
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: NL

Voorzitter, ik kan me nog goed herinneren dat wij toen ik klein was een puppy kregen en dat was echt het beste cadeau ooit! Puk heeft ook echt een prachtig leven gehad op onze boerderij. Helaas is dat niet zo vanzelfsprekend in de Europese Unie en dat is eigenlijk schandalig. Het gebeurt nog steeds dat puppy’s geboren worden in slechte hygiënische omstandigheden, dat ze de ontwormingskuren niet krijgen, de inentingen niet krijgen, zelfs mishandeld worden of geen daglicht zien. Zulke puppy’s komen dan bij liefdevolle gezinnen waarbij de puppy’s ziek worden of zelfs doodgaan. Dit is onacceptabel dierenleed en het brengt ook heel veel leed bij die gezinnen teweeg. Ook moeten zij dan weer naar een dierenarts gaan en hebben zij hoge kosten. Deze illegale handel, deze fok van katten en honden moet stoppen. Dit is de EU niet waardig en ik vraag de Europese Commissie daarom ook om streng te controleren en dit keihard aan te pakken.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Tilly Metz
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, chaque année, des milliers d’animaux de compagnie font l’objet d’un trafic illégal au sein de l’Union. Ces animaux sont mal nourris, séparés trop jeunes de leur mère, souvent malades et non soignés, puis vendus illégalement en Europe. Au-delà du bien-être animal, c’est aussi une question de santé publique et de protection des consommateurs. Ces animaux ont parfois des maladies contagieuses et les consommateurs non avertis risquent de se retrouver avec des animaux condamnés, des factures impayées et un cœur brisé. Pour faire cesser ce trafic illégal, nous demandons à la Commission, premièrement, d’améliorer la traçabilité en proposant un système harmonisé d’enregistrement des animaux. Deuxièmement, de mettre fin aux publicités illégales en ligne. Pour cela, nous exigeons l’identification systématique des vendeurs. Et troisièmement, d’améliorer la coopération entre les États membres pour arrêter ces trafiquants. Ces mesures sont urgentes et indispensables pour lutter contre ces réseaux criminels.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Antoni Comín i Oliveres
Political group: NI
Country: Romania
Language: ES

Señora presidenta, el Reglamento (UE) n.º 576/2013 se pensó para el movimiento no comercial de animales de compañía. Y el comercio ilegal dentro de la Unión Europea de este tipo de animales vulnera este Reglamento; además, atenta contra el buen funcionamiento del mercado único, porque a menudo estamos hablando de malas praxis en el ámbito de la compraventa digital. El plan de acción de la Comisión ENVI para resolver este problema es claro: una mejor implementación del Reglamento; sanciones para los agentes que se involucran en este tráfico ilegal: veterinarios, comerciantes, vendedores, publicidad; instauración de un sistema europeo de identificación de gatos y perros; animar a los ciudadanos a que adopten animales como alternativa a la compraventa; y mejor cooperación y formación de las autoridades aduaneras. Este es el camino. Además, no debemos olvidar que el bienestar de los animales va estrechamente ligado al bienestar de las personas. Traficar con animales, muchos de ellos no vacunados o sin las certificaciones necesarias, significa también traficar con enfermedades. Una sociedad que protege los derechos de los animales es una sociedad más humana.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Sunčana Glavak
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: HR

Poštovana predsjedavajuća, procjenjuje se da se mjesečno među državama članicama Europske unije trguje s oko 46 000 pasa od kojih većina nije registrirana, mnogi su bolesni, nisu cijepljeni i imaju krivotvorene ili nikakve dokumente, ne zna se njihovo podrijetlo i mnoge životinje umiru kratko nakon prodaje. Nezakonita trgovina životinjama najunosniji je kriminal na svijetu nakon droge i oružja. Osim zaštićenim i divljim životinjama, nezakonito se trguje kućnim ljubimcima. To ima negativne posljedice za javno zdravlje, dobrobit životinja i zaštitu potrošača. Zato su identifikacija i registracija svih mačaka i pasa prvi korak u borbi protiv njihove nezakonite trgovine.  U zaključcima Vijeća iz prosinca prošle godine, usvojenih tijekom predsjedanja Finske, Vijeće je dodatno pozvalo Komisiju na procjenu potrebe za novim zakonodavstvom o dobrobiti životinja. U Hrvatskoj je takvo zakonodavstvo dobro regulirano.  Kolegice i kolege, ovi podaci tužna su realnost koju svi zajedno moramo promijeniti.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Isabella Adinolfi
Political group: NI
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, l'articolo 13 del trattato di Lisbona sancisce che gli animali sono esseri senzienti e come tali devono essere trattati e tutelati. Eppure ancora oggi vengono considerati soltanto come degli oggetti. Qui parliamo di commercio illegale, con cuccioli stipati in camion e stive come qualsiasi merce o bagaglio per essere venduti illegalmente in diversi paesi dell'Unione europea, riportando traumi di natura fisica e psicologica. Ma vorrei sollevare anche il problema del trasporto dei nostri animali domestici. Per molti cittadini europei viaggiare con i propri amici a quattro zampe è impossibile, in particolar modo se si tratta di un viaggio aereo. Non tutte le compagnie aeree infatti permettono di viaggiare con animali domestici, e quelle che lo prevedono pongono dei limiti di peso e di numero per l'accesso in cabina, e trasportando in stiva, come oggetti, gli animali in eccesso. Dobbiamo aggiornare le norme, obbligando tutte le compagnie ad accettare gli animali e a prevedere che essi viaggino in tutta sicurezza. Viaggino, non che siano trasportati come dei pacchi. Adottate, non comprate!
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Jiří Pospíšil
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: CS

Paní předsedající, paní komisařko, Vy jste řekla ve svém úvodu, že nelegální obchod se zvířaty v zájmovém chovu je věcí národních států. Promiňte, ale to považuji za alibismus. My se v českém parlamentu pokoušíme prosadit tvrdší úpravu trestního zákoníku, postih množíren, postih tohoto obchodu a ty debaty jasně ukazují, že žádná členská země není schopna tento problém zcela vyřešit. Jedná se o organizovaný mezinárodní zločin, to zde kolegové jasně řekli, jedná se o statisíce štěňat a koťat, jedná se o obrovské utrpení těchto živých tvorů a bez toho, že EU a její orgány, konkrétně Evropská komise, připraví účinná celoevropská opatření, tak žádný členský stát tento problém sám nevyřeší, byť bude mít sebelepší vůli.  Já Vás prosím, věnujte se pořádně tomuto tématu. Vaše odpověď byla vyhýbavá. Snažte se najít řešení, které efektivně postihne tento organizovaný zločin, kde unikají miliardy na daních, ale hlavně trpí nevinná zvířata.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: LT

Gerbiama pirmininke, komisijos nare, kolegos. Europa uždraudė vergų prekybą devynioliktame amžiuje. Tačiau dvidešimt pirmajame amžiaus jo pradžioje negalime sudaryti normalių sąlygų mūsų mažiesiems draugams, apribodami  nelegalią prekybą. Europos Sąjunga, kuri sugebėjęs sukurti pasaulinio lygio ekonominę gerovę, pirmauja technologinių išradimų srityje, tačiau tebestokoja valios sukurti privalomą šunų ir kačių registracija ir ženklinimą. Iškilmingai kalbėdami apie skaitmeninį amžių, apie būtinus pasiekimus, mes neturime vieningos registracijos duomenų sistemos mūsų Sąjungoje. Rizikuodami gyvūnų gerovę, apgaudinėdami neinformuotus pirkėjus ir  pažeisdami visuomenės sveikatos reikalavimus, mes palaikome nelegalų ir nešvarų verslą. Kviečiu Europos Komisiją nedelsiant imtis privalomų sprendimų, kurie ir sukurs Europinę gyvensenos pagrindus gyvūnų gerovės srityje. Baikime šiuolaikinę vergovę.
Debate: The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Stella Kyriakides
Language: EN

Now I’m going to restate that the Commission, and myself personally, are committed to look at finding ways to end the illegal trade of cats and dogs. I do believe that the new Animal Health Law will address many of these issues. It does have compulsory registration, finally, of establishments breeding cats and dogs, and we do now have, if not all the necessary measures, a great deal more necessary measures to help Member States prevent and detect this unacceptable practice. But it is also important that we enforce the rules, and I think we all need to understand that these are not being enforced. All the stakeholders have an important role to play in this by developing guidelines, and I was very interested and I agree that we need to also have more public awareness campaigns of this problem. The new Official Controls Regulation provides far stronger penalties and more tools to address online sales, and I believe that by working together we can stop the illegal trade of companion animals. It is a threat to the internal market and public and animal health, as well as animal welfare, and what I can commit to, as a Commissioner, is that I will be looking at this even more closely and seeing how the Animal Health Law is implemented and, if necessary, what else we can do.