With the exception of the EPP, the other members of the European Parliament called for a Europe-wide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses during a plenary debate in Strasbourg on Thursday 16 December.
Janez Lenarčič, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, said it was not the EU’s place to legislate on the matter. Twenty-three EU countries have already banned animals in circuses, he said, pointing out that EU rules exist to control the movement of circus animals and prevent the...