Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-06-11-Speech-1-084"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010611.5.1-084"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, honourable Members, today’s debate shows that the European Parliament, the Commission and the Swedish Presidency have a common interest in animal welfare and animal ethics. It also provides us with the opportunity to exchange thoughts on these important matters.
Another of Sweden’s conferences during its presidency was Ethics and Animal Welfare 2001, to which Parliament was also invited. The aim of this conference was to bring together representatives of industry, animal welfare organisations and public authorities and to conduct a discussion on animal welfare and ethics.
The participants agreed that the exchange of experiences and an open, continuous dialogue are a prerequisite for improvements in the area of animal welfare. For example, it is important that provisions that are adopted are also implemented in practice. I am pleased that discussions on animal welfare and animal ethics have been conducted in so many contexts, but in order for improvements to animal welfare to come about, tighter provisions are also needed in many areas.
During the period of Sweden’s Presidency, the Council has dealt with several proposals in the area of animal welfare. One of these dossiers is the Commission’s report on animal welfare during transport. The report was presented and discussed at the Council of Ministers in January. One of the report’s conclusions is that every Member State must earmark further resources for the implementation of existing provisions. It is also important for the Commission to come up with concrete proposals for improvements in the legislation.
The Presidency is also working to bring about adoption of a resolution on animal transport at the Council of Ministers in June, that is, next week. The purpose is to ask the Commission to provide suggestions for provisions to improve animal transport. Naturally, the Presidency needs great support if such a resolution is to be decided on.
In my opinion, the most urgent matter is for the provisions that already exist to really be implemented in the Member States, but that is still not happening. This is shown, in particular, by film and video footage that has been recorded in various countries, often in secret. Such footage clearly shows that provisions are not being implemented and are also a source of disgust on the part of our citizens. It is important to implement the common decisions that we have taken in each country. It is also important that the periods for which animals are transported are shortened and that export subsidies for live animals are abolished.
Fortunately enough, during the latter part of this spring the Commission submitted a proposal within this area. The proposal concerns improved ventilation in the road vehicles used for transporting animals for over eight hours. The Presidency has initiated discussion of the proposal in the Council’s working party.
The Presidency has worked very intensively on the Commission’s proposal for a new directive on the welfare of pigs. As you already know, the proposal involves improved conditions for pigs. We very much appreciate the rapporteur’s, Mr Busk’s, work on this proposal. I believe it is very important that we in the Council are able to arrive at a decision on improvements in pig keeping as quickly as possible. This of course requires an opinion from the European Parliament. I therefore hope for your understanding of our desire for a fast procedure. This should allow a clear signal to be given by both the European Parliament and the Council that we see animal welfare as a priority matter.
Detailed provisions are important, but they must be based on a fundamental position concerning our responsibility for animals. Within the EU, we have decided that we must take animals’ needs into consideration. This is clear, for example, from the Treaty of Amsterdam, which establishes that animals are sentient beings and that animal welfare is to be taken into consideration in the drawing up and implementation of the Community’s policies.
Naturally, we will continue to show consideration for animals because our legislation demands it. Moreover, it is my personal conviction that our human dignity bids us accept our responsibility for animals. Man is in a unique and special position and therefore also has a moral responsibility to show consideration for animals.
Man’s relationship with animals is increasingly a matter of discussion in today’s society. During my time as a member of the EU’s Council of Agriculture Ministers it has been clear that matters concerning animal welfare have come up on the agenda with increasing frequency and taken up increasing amounts of time. In this respect, the year 1995 is not like the year 2001.
When we discuss issues concerning animals, however, in recent times these have mostly been concerned with diseased animals and with occurrences within agriculture that have had catastrophic consequences. The issues concerning the protection of animals dealt with by the Council, primarily concern technical provisions, but I believe that it is high time that we also discussed matters of principle concerning man’s relationship with animals and how animals are to be treated. The ethical aspects of livestock farming must guide our decisions in the area of agricultural policy to a greater extent in future. Ethics is not about labelling things as good or evil, or good or bad; rather they are a tool to help us as we make difficult choices. We must dare to ask why animals are regarded merely as products in some contexts and why we allow animals to be treated poorly in certain cases.
When unsatisfactory states of affairs are revealed, we tend to react with demands for stricter provisions, but it is not possible to prevent the cruel treatment of animals through legislation or control measures alone. How animals are treated is also a matter of people’s attitudes and values.
At the Council of Ministers in May, I took the initiative for a debate on ethical aspects of livestock farming. The purpose of the debate was to highlight the matter at a level of principle, starting from the fact that, in the future too, we will have a society in which animals are in the service of humans.
All the Member States felt that the ethical aspects of livestock farming are important. These must be integrated to a greater extent into future decisions concerning livestock farming. The Member States pointed out that animals are sentient beings that must be treated well. Several countries stated that knowledge concerning animals and animals’ needs, as well as training measures for people who deal with animals in their everyday work, are of crucial importance.
My conclusions from the debate included the fact that animals are sentient creatures with an intrinsic value. They must be treated with respect, and consideration is to be given to their health and welfare. In my conclusion, I pointed out that the statements made must not just remain fine words; rather, they commit us to take practical measures in respect of the protection of animals.
The scientific conference, Food Chain 2001 was held in line with the Swedish Presidency’s emphasis on a holistic view of the food chain. I think it is important to note one of the conference’s conclusions in particular. Improved animal welfare which guarantees healthier animals often has crucial economic benefits.
At the informal meeting of ministers in Östersund in April, the EU’s future agricultural and food policy was discussed. Here, it was clear that changes must take place. In their contributions, many of my colleagues highlighted the crisis that agriculture is currently in. Mad cow disease, foot-and-mouth disease and unacceptable animal transport are just some of the matters that make the need for change clear."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples