On Thursday 15 May, MEPs from the two committees concerned once again expressed positions that were sometimes irreconcilable on how to tighten up the rules on animal transport.
Over 3,000 amendments were tabled by members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Transport Committees.
Several amendments tabled by the EPP and the ECR and Patriots for Europe groups call for the rejection of the European Commission’s initial proposal (see EUROPE 13603/20).
Despite their differences, the two rapporteurs seem ready to enter into negotiations next week in an attempt to draft compromise amendments.
Daniel Buda (EPP, Romanian) said that he wanted to avoid rules that put asphyxiating pressure on breeders and could lead to the relocation of production. He advocated pragmatic solutions aimed at easing restrictions on transport times, temperatures in transport vehicles, space given to animals in lorries, exports to third countries and the presence of veterinarians when animals are loaded and unloaded.
The other rapporteur, Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), felt that the tightening of the rules was a response to the demands of vets, citizens and NGOs. Her group offers a number of services: - an 8-hour journey limit (otherwise a 24-hour break before a new eight-hour journey); - a sea transport limit of 48 hours in total; - the reiteration of the proposal on temperatures (with the addition of thresholds for each species); - a ban on transporting unweaned animals by sea (calves over 5 weeks old can travel).
Ms Metz said, that with regard to the transport of animals to third countries, “we are trying to find a solution applicable from 2030”. According to the amendment, by 2030 economic operators would be prohibited from transporting animals to third countries by any means of transport, “unless the country of destination is on a list of authorised export destinations”. Bilateral agreements should be put in place with third countries of destination “to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Regulation up to the final destination”, according to the amendments.
The Greens/EFA Group also calls on the Commission to present, by 2030, an EU action plan for the transition to trade in meat and carcasses, to replace long journeys to slaughter and to encourage trade in meat, carcasses and genetic material. According to the EPP, this solution is deemed impossible to implement at present, because the network of slaughterhouses is not ready.
The rapporteurs hope to see the report adopted in October by the European Parliament’s relevant committees, with a plenary vote in December. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)