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Parliamentary question - E-013965/2013Parliamentary question
E-013965/2013

Massacre of stray dogs in Bosnia

Question for written answer E-013965-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Cristiana Muscardini (ECR)

Following reports in the press, the Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina is debating an amendment to the law on the protection and welfare of animals which is inhumane, to say the least. The new legislation apparently focuses on euthanising captured stray healthy animals if they are not adopted within 14 days. A similar measure has also been discussed in Romania. According to the animal welfare organisations which have studied the legislative measure, countless improvements to the law on animal protection and welfare are needed, but they should be the complete opposite of the amendments tabled on euthanasia. Furthermore, in addition to being obviously barbaric, it has been clearly proven that killing stray dogs does not solve the problem. It is also more expensive than far-sighted measures which respect animal welfare such as sterilising and adopting abandoned dogs, as well as raising awareness and instituting criminal proceedings against those who commit the offence of abandoning a dog.

1. Does the Commission not believe that it should advise Bosnia-Herzegovina to use sterilisation and adoption as alternative instruments to euthanasia given its status as a ‘potential candidate country’ for EU accession, which would require it to adopt animal welfare legislation that goes against that proposed by the current parliament?

2. Given that the Commission allocated over EUR 100 million in 2012 to Bosnia-Herzegovina to allow this country to make reforms to move closer to EU accession, and in view of the importance that the EU legal framework places on the protection of animal health and welfare, does the Commission not believe that it should review this funding in the event that the amendments tabled to the law on animal protection and welfare are passed?

3. What legislative measures does the Commission use to protect the welfare of animals and to combat the problem of stray animals?

4. Does the Commission not believe that it should call on candidate countries and potential candidate countries to adopt the same measures?

OJ C 265, 13/08/2014