Almost all the members of the European Parliament called, on Thursday 19 October, for an end to the farming of animals for fur production, as demanded by the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Fur Free Europe’.
A recent European Parliament hearing on this ECI also showed that the majority in the Hemicycle were in favour of putting an end to these practices, which were deemed unjustifiable (see EUROPE 13270/13).
Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe, Slovakian), like many other MEPs - including Günther Sidl (S&D, German), Ivars Ijabs (Renew Europe, Latvian), Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA, Portuguese), Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Dutch) and Jiří Pospíšil (EPP, Czech) - supported an end to the farming of these animals and the withdrawal of products containing them from the European market. Only Mazaly Aguilar (ECR, Spanish) regretted a biased debate and “an ecological ideology”. Krzysztof Jurgiel (ECR, Polish) spoke in favour of regulations aimed at moving away from these types of farming, while providing financial compensation for farmers to help them convert.
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Education, said that the Commission would examine this request very carefully, taking into account the scientific, health, legal and socio-economic impact aspects. Sixteen EU countries have taken measures to ban these farms. In December, the Commission will adopt a communication on the response to this ECI. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)