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 illegal trade in these animals.
A petition signed by 1 million EU citizens has called for such a European ban.
However, Michaela Šojdrová (EPP, Czech Republic) said “there is no need to start drafting legislation now to ban the use of wild animals in circuses at EU level”.
Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden) and Martin Hojsík (Renew Europe, Slovakia), among others, highlighted the suffering experienced by these animals and the need for EU legislation against the use of wild animals in circuses.
“The bans introduced at national level by some Member States are not enough as long as there are still countries like mine, Italy, where there are no restrictions”, said Eleonora Evi (Greens/EFA, Italy).
“Lions jumping through hoops, elephants standing on their hind legs and hippos sitting on a stool: these are unnatural behaviours that we teach animals through violent training methods”, denounced Anja Hazekamp (The Left, the Netherlands).
Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Denmark) spoke about the baby elephant Dumbo, separated from its mother, and who is dressed up as a clown. 65% of Europeans are in favour of such a ban, he said. Moreover, the EU ban would prevent the illegal wildlife trade, Mr Fuglsang argued. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)