Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 6 September 2006 - Strasbourg

6. Banning seal products in the European Union (written declaration)

  President. – I should like to advise you that written declaration 38/2006 by Carl Schlyter, Paulo Casaca, Karl-Heinz Florenz, Mojca Drčar Murko and Caroline Lucas on banning seal products in the European Union has been signed by the majority of Parliament's component Members. Consequently, in accordance with Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure, it will be forwarded to its addressees and published in the minutes of the sitting of 26 September 2006.

  Carl Schlyter (Verts/ALE). – Mr President, this spring I went with a group of European journalists to follow the seal hunt. Our car was run off the road, our helicopter was grounded and we were forced to remain in our hotel by an angry mob. Despite all this we managed to witness the cruel hunting of very young seal pups which left many suffering on the ice. Climate change and the receding ice threaten their survival because they need ice cover for their nursing.

Europe is the main market for seal products. I thank with all my heart all the colleagues who signed this resolution. The last time the EU made a reduction in its market for seal products, in the 1980s, it led to a virtual closing-down of the hunt. This demand is an extension of the ban and will finally give eco-tourism the chance to replace mass slaughter.

I urge the Commission to propose legislation as quickly as possible in order to scale back next year's hunt, which will start in March.

I thank all of you very much.

(Applause)