Document type: Answer from the European Commission to question E-000130/24
Authors: question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
Question: Relaunching the reform of EU rules for the transport of animals On the 7 December 2023 the Commission proposed a reform of EU rules for the transport of animals. However, the agricultural press [1] recently reported that the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union might abandon this reform and that it will prioritise the proposal on the protection of dogs and cats. Therefore, the proposed reform of EU rules for the transport of livestock is likely to be deferred to the next Commission, whose term of office will begin after the European elections. 1. How is the Commission planning on relaunching its proposed reform? 2. Given that it would reduce trade volumes and result in fewer negative externalities (accidents on the road and at sea, carbon footprint), can the Commission make a case to the Council for the transition to the transport of meat instead of live animals?
[1]https://www.web-agri.fr/bien-etre-animal/article/860770/le-projet-de-loi-europeen-sur-le-transport-n-est-pas-une-priorite-pour-bruxelles.
Answer: 1. The Commission submitted on 7 December 2023 its proposal for a regulation on the protection of animals during transport to the European Parliament and the Council. [1]. In accordance with the Ordinary Legislative Procedure, set out in Article 294 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union [2]the proposal is now with the co-legislators for the next steps. 2. It is the prerogative of the Presidency of the Council of the EU to set priorities for the examination of legislative proposals in the Council. One of the changes in the current EU legislation, included in the proposal, is the limitation of the maximum journey time for the transport of animals to slaughter. Shorter journey times are expected to encourage shorter supply chains and thus incentivise the local economy.
[1]Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. COM(2023) 770 final.
[2]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/?uri=C
