AR-News: EU-subsidies for breeders of fighting bulls after CAP reform

Fri Apr 9 13:25:42 EDT 2004

From:animal_net at yahoogroups.com

Subject: [animal_net] Digest Number 889
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      1. EU-subsidies for breeders of fighting bulls after CAP reform
           From: "INITIATIVE ANTI-CORRIDA" <info at anti-corrida.de>

   Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 08:56:17 +0100
   From: "INITIATIVE ANTI-CORRIDA" <info at anti-corrida.de>
Subject: EU-subsidies for breeders of fighting bulls after CAP reform

The EU-commission claims that the payment of subsidies for the breeders of
fighting bulls after the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will also
depend on animal welfare. We had our euro-deputy Hiltrud Breyer ask the
Commission further questions. Below the parlamentary question and the answer
of Commissioner Fischler.
Mechthild Mench
www.anti-corrida.de
info at anti-corrida.de

http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-20040059+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=0&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y

Parliamentary questions
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0059/04
by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the  Commission
(08 January 2004)

Subject: Animal welfare and subsidies following the reform of the CAP

When the reform of the CAP enters into force, subsidies for cattle farmers
will be specifically linked to compliance with EU basic requirements in
terms of animal health and welfare. Farmers who fail to observe these
requirements will be subject to cuts in direct payments, as well as the
sanctions generally applicable.

How will farms be assessed for animal welfare?

How does the animal welfare factor tie in with subsidies for breeders of
fighting bulls, who earn their living by repeatedly hiring out their animals
for bullfights, during which they are left to face hours of torture,
including being injured with lances, having their horns set on fire and
being hunted into the sea? Does the Commission intend to reduce these farms'
subsidies on a permanent basis, since it is clear that their very nature
means that they cannot meet the minimum animal welfare requirements?
--------
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=68325&LEVEL=0&SAME_LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y

Parliamentary questions
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission
(written question: E-0059/04)
(3 March 2004)

In the Commission's declaration which accompanied the agreement on the
Council Regulation on the reform of the CAP (Council Regulation (EC) No
1782/2003(1)) it is foreseen that the control of the farmers in respect of
their cross-compliance obligations will normally be the responsibility of
the official services which currently monitor compliance with the relevant
animal welfare rules.
The agency responsible for the payment of aid will apply sanctions on the
basis of these controls.
The Commission is currently drafting the necessary detailed rules on this
subject, in accordance with the above-mentioned declaration.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, which was adopted in September 2003,
following the Parliament's opinion, provides that direct payments are
subject to cross-compliance, as from 1 January 2007, as regards animal
welfare and in particular as regards Council Directive 98/58/CE of 20 July
1998 on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes(2). However,
bull fighting animals are not covered by this Directive according to Article
1 (2) b thereof, which excludes "animals intended for use in competitions,
shows, cultural or sporting events or activities". Moreover, Article 6 (2)
of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 provides that any reduction or
exclusion from payments "shall only apply if the non-compliance relates to
a) an agricultural activity, b) an agricultural land of the holding.".
Therefore, the treatment received by these animals in the bull ring is
entirely outside the scope of both those Regulations.
Furthermore, the Commission is not aware that the welfare of potential
fighting bulls, whilst they are being reared on the farm is, in practice,
inferior to that of animals reared for other purposes.

(1)Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing
common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy
and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, OJ L 270, 21.10.2003
(2)OJ L 221, 8.8.1998

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