Document type: Article published in 30 Millions d'Amis Foundation
Author: Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis
Preview: On November 6, 2024, European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary) presented MEPs with his strategy for managing the animal health and welfare portfolio that is now his responsibility for the 2024-2029 term. (...)
The situation is unprecedented, as this is the first time that animal welfare has featured in the title of a European Commissioner. To summarise recent events: in mid-September 2024, Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, unveiled the appointment of the various Commissioners and the portfolios she wished to assign to them for her next term of office (2024-2029). Among them is Olivér Várhelyi, currently the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement. He has been appointed to manage what is now the health and animal welfare portfolio. The title is aspirational. But does this appointment mean that the European Union (EU) is - at last - recognizing the importance of the subject? (...)
Many challenges await
It will be the end of 2023 before the Commission presents two proposals for European regulations: one "on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability", the other "on theprotection of animals during transport ". These texts are now on the agenda of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, where the Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis is lobbying for the proposed laws to be strengthened before they are adopted. In addition to these two regulations, the European Commission will have to respond to European Citizens' Initiatives (ECI) for the banning of cages for farmed animals, an end to fur farming and sales, and the development of alternatives to animal experimentation. These are all important issues for a Commissioner explicitly in charge of "animal welfare" and the Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis will be vigilant in its efforts to ensure that concrete action is taken! "If the new Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare fails to remedy [cage farming], his title will be laughed at," asserts Dr. J. Swabe.
A strong signal, but... Although animal welfare has finally made its appearance in the title of a Commission portfolio, it remains to be seen whether Olivér Várhely will be able to translate all that this represents in terms of hopes for the improvement of the lot of hundreds of millions of animals in Europe into decisive and concrete measures. "As far as I know, he has no particular interest or track record in this area," says HSI's Director of Public Affairs. Especially as Hungary does not support a ban on cages in Europe." According to an assessment carried out by CIWF, the country continues to keep almost 73% of its farm animals confined. For animal protection associations, however, the inclusion of animal welfare in the title of a European Commissioner is seen as a first step: "We are at the dawn of a new era for animal rights in Europe," declared Michel Vandenbosch, President of the Belgian association GAIA, in September 2024. (...)
