Document type : Written answer from the European Commission
Authors: Question: Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission.
Question in French (translation): In 2019, 2020 and 2021, listed European "farm" animals were transported via Kakavia, the Greek land border with Albania. In Kakavia, the animals left the EU customs territory without being subjected to any animal welfare control by the Greek authorities.
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 stipulates that the competent authorities of the Member States must check the welfare of the animals at the exit points (Article 21). The regulation specifies that "exit point" means a border inspection post (BIP) where animals leave the EU customs territory (Article 2(i)).
According to the official list (accessed on September 7, 2021), Kakavia is a BIP. Animals are regularly transported there from Greece to Albania. Therefore, according to Article 2(i) of Regulation 1/2005, Kakavia is an exit point. On the Albanian side, the welfare of the animals leaving the EU is not controlled.
1. Does the Commission agree that the failure to carry out welfare checks on animals transported out of EU customs territory to Albania via Kakavia constitutes a breach of Regulation 1/2005?
2. Since the Commission was informed of this problem in 2020, what kind of measures has it adopted to solve it?
Answer in French (translation): Article 21 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport requires official veterinarians of the Member States to verify that animals presented at exit points and border control posts comply with that Regulation.
According to Article 3(39) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, "exit point" means a border control post or any other place designated by a Member State where animals, falling within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, leave the customs territory of the Union. The Greek authorities have confirmed that Kakavia is not designated as an exit point for live animals. Therefore, operators transporting animals should not leave the territory of the Union through this place. It is the responsibility of the competent authorities of the Member States to communicate to operators their list of designated exit points and to ensure that they comply with EU animal welfare requirements.
Although an audit addressing the specific issue raised by the Honourable Member was not carried out, the Commission services carried out a general follow-up audit in Greece in December 2020 and January 2021. As a follow-up to the previous recommendations, the central competent authority has recognised that not all regional units are carrying out controls in accordance with the provisions and is carrying out a project to analyse and improve the quality of official transport controls on animal welfare. The competent authorities plan to develop this project in 2022, including a more thorough use by the services of data from the Commission's TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System). The Commission will monitor the situation closely and take appropriate action if the situation does not improve.
