Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-30-Speech-2-040"
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"en.20040330.3.2-040"2
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"Mr President, we are dealing with an important issue which, like many other issues, faces scientific uncertainties. What is peculiar about this issue is the erratic nature of the Commission’s proposals.
Faced with the difficulties of defining animal welfare in an objective manner, the Commission has been making proposals by trial and error. Having tried to apply the inapplicable rest centres, it is now making the current proposal which is just as extraordinary, in my view. How can we imagine that an extended stop during the journey can benefit animal welfare? Looked at in this way, it seems to me to be extremely simple-minded.
We can imagine the effects of such a proposal if applied to ourselves. Allow me to offer this comparison: if on a car journey, just before reaching our destination, we were obliged to stop for a considerable length of time, without getting out of the car, our nerves would naturally suffer considerably.
While the Commission's proposal poses serious problems in terms of rigour, we must acknowledge that the draft report, despite the efforts of Mr Maat, represents little more than ‘every man for himself’.
Firstly, a distinction is established between animals intended for slaughter and animals intended for fattening. Why should animals intended for slaughter have more right to well-being than those intended for fattening? As far as I am aware, according to the Treaties, all men are equal, and animals as well. It is clear that the draft report guarantees that 40% of Dutch exports of pigs go to their farthest destination: the Spanish market. Alright: 1 400 000 pigs will be able to travel for 30 hours, while the poor pigs intended for slaughter will have the right to a final wish and will not be able to travel for more than nine hours. What a wonderful achievement for the welfare of animals! It is true that, with the nine hours, pigs originating from Poland, for example, will be able to be sacrificed in certain nearby countries, leaving the added value there and not exactly promoting compliance by Polish slaughterhouses with Community legislation.
In my opinion, this draft report addresses many issues and not simply animal welfare. We must recognise that nobody transports animals for the fun of it. The transportation of live animals is expensive and complicated, and is only done when necessary. I believe that the essential thing as far as the welfare of animals is concerned is to reduce the total travelling time for all animals."@en1
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