EPP MEPs call for urgent action on animal welfare in letter to EU Commission - Commission proposal expected on December 6
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Urgent Need for Action Against Illegal Puppy Trade / Eurobarometer Reveals - Europeans Want Greater Animal Protection / End Animal Cruelty, Protect Human and Animal Health
In a joint letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, several members of the EPP Group, led by Marlene Mortler,responsible spokesperson on the topic, Peter Liese, spokesperson for the Committee on Environment and Public Health, and Esther de Lange, Vice Chair of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP-Christian Democrats), have urgently highlighted the need to improve the protection of pets in the EU.
"We can be proud of our high standards of animal welfare in Europe. However, in practice, it is often apparent that our strict rules are circumvented. This has led to a flourishing illegal puppy trade in the EU. With this letter, we strongly urge President von der Leyen and Commissioner Kyriakides and demand a proposal from the Commission, as animal shelter operators repeatedly point out these deficiencies to us. Ultimately, it is about the welfare of all companion animals, such as dogs and cats," explained Mortler.
EU Parliament adopts no position on plant protection products in sensational plenary vote
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Ban of plant protection products in ecologically sensitive areas off the table / Victory for farmers
Today, Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted no position on the reduction of plant protection products in a highly controversial vote. Several elements had been subject of long discussions. This includes the already high targets proposed by the Commission to reduce the use of plant protection products that in the Environment Committee had even increased. The real living conditions of farmers and the position of the Committee on Agriculture had been hardly taken into account. The Commission also proposed a ban on the use of pesticides in so-called “ecologically sensitive areas”, including bird and nature protection areas. This would have jeopardized the work of many farmers in Europe whose farmlands lie in these areas. Fortunately, these proposals could be taken off the table in today’s plenary vote.
Read more: EU Parliament adopts no position on plant protection products in sensational plenary vote
European Parliament votes for reduction of packaging and packaging waste
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Right to combat flood of plastic waste / Controversial bans rightly defused
During the plenary session on Wednesday, the European Parliament substantially changed the European Commission's proposal on packaging and packaging waste. Many elements of the regulation that were publically criticised have been fundamentally adjusted or completely deleted. For example, the controversial ban on paper sachets of sugar, salt, pepper and sweetener has been removed. After the vote the environment policy spokesman for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), Dr. Peter Liese said:
“I think it is right to combat the flood of plastic in particular and to improve recycling in those European countries where it is not yet working very well. We need a strong internal market for recycled raw materials to enhance our circular economy, but we don't need a waterfall of bans. Paper is a sustainable material and in Europe we really have other things to worry about at the moment than paper bags.”
Read more: European Parliament votes for reduction of packaging and packaging waste
EU Institutions Agree on Reduction of Methane, a Climate-Damaging Gas
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Peter Liese, Christian Ehler & Maria Spyraki: Good for the Climate / Pragmatic Approach Prevails in the End / No Obligation for Agriculture and No Restriction on Alternatives to Russian Gas
The European Parliament, along with the Commission and member states, reached an agreement on the reduction of methane, a climate-damaging gas. The proposal represents a compromise and is significantly more pragmatic than the original ideas of the Green Party's rapporteur, Jutta Paulus.
The environmental spokesperson Dr. Peter Liese along with colleagues Maria Spyraki and Dr. Christian Ehler, welcomed the outcome: “The regulation makes an important contribution to the reduction of climate-damaging methane, while the outcome is pragmatic because agriculture is initially exempted. Especially in the current phase, where food prices are rising, we must be extremely cautious about imposing burdens on agriculture. We also welcome that the rules for gas imports are flexible so that alternatives to Russian gas can continue to be used.”