Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-16-Speech-4-018"
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"en.20041216.5.4-018"2
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"Mr President, the welfare of animals during transit has been a matter of continuing concern for Parliament over recent years. I venture to suggest it has given rise to more concern than the plight of the millions of children dying of starvation or living in unacceptable conditions in contemporary Europe.
If the humanitarian organisations acting in the interests of those individuals had shown the same determination as their counterparts promoting the cause of animals, something could probably have been done to help the European children dying day after day.
I shall be more specific. Parliament has issued two opinions on animal welfare in transit over the last three years. I do not believe it is appropriate to devote any more time to the matter, as fortunately it was finally settled this November, following the agreement reached in the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
In my view, the compromise proposal tabled by the Irish Presidency was better. It contained a reasonable restriction on journey times, taking account of both the animal welfare and the question of freedom of movement of goods within the European Union. I would remind the House of the times in question, namely nine hours of journey time plus twelve for rest and a further nine hours of journey time. The agreement reached today under the Dutch Presidency does not imply any change to existing regulations on journey time. The decision on this crucial issue in the debate has been postponed for six years.
The postponement is due to the differences of opinion that still exist between the Member States. It amounts to stalemate. Nonetheless, I would like to clarify one aspect I feel many of those following the debates have overlooked, and which should be brought to the notice of the citizens. Existing regulations already impose a maximum travel time of eight hours when vehicles that do not comply with the welfare standards laid down in the regulations are used. In addition, these standards have been tightened up by virtue of the agreement reached in the Council of Ministers."@en1
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