Brussels, 07/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament recently published a report describing the situation of circuses in Europe. Drafted at the request of German Christian Democrat Doris Pack, the report analyses not only the conditions in which animals are raised (elephants, bears, monkeys, etc.) but also the education of circus children, the social security systems for circus performers as seasonal EU workers and the question of circus mobility in Europe.
Presenting the study to the press in Brussels, Doris Pack stressed that the diversity of national legislation does not in any way promote the free movement of circus workers. She went on to cite the example of France where "a request must be made 6 months before putting up the big top", or Germany where a "veterinarian decides whether a circus can or not work on German territory". "How can there be no European legislation governing the status of itinerant performers with a special lifestyle?" Ms Pack asked, calling on the European Commission to make a proposal of directive aimed at harmonising conditions for the free movement of European circuses.