In a letter sent on Friday 24 November to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health, several members of the EPP group in the European Parliament, including Marlene Mortler from Germany, Peter Liese from Germany and Esther de Lange from the Netherlands, called on the institution to take urgent action to improve the protection of pets in the European Union.
On 6 December, the European Commission is due to adopt a proposal to improve animal welfare during transport, which could include the movement of pets such as dogs and cats (see EUROPE 13299/8).
“The illegal puppy trade is flourishing in the European Union”, worry the EPP MEPs who wrote the letter. They are asking the European Commission to put forward a proposal to prevent this illegal dog trade, “as animal shelter operators regularly report these shortcomings to us”.
A recent Eurobarometer survey showed that 74% of European citizens are calling for greater protection of Community rules on the welfare of pets (see EUROPE 13275/9). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)