The spread of bluetongue virus throughout the EU
26.9.2024
Question for written answer E-001845/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Benoit Cassart (Renew), Olivier Chastel (Renew), Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Valérie Hayer (Renew), Billy Kelleher (Renew), Elsi Katainen (Renew), Hilde Vautmans (Renew), Yvan Verougstraete (Renew), Joachim Streit (Renew), Asger Christensen (Renew), Charles Goerens (Renew), Pascal Arimont (PPE), Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Renew), Marie-Pierre Vedrenne (Renew), Christophe Grudler (Renew), Eric Sargiacomo (S&D), Céline Imart (PPE), Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Renew), Christine Singer (Renew), Daniel Attard (S&D), Grégory Allione (Renew), Barry Cowen (Renew), Michael McNamara (Renew), Ciaran Mullooly (Renew), Jessika Van Leeuwen (PPE), Emma Wiesner (Renew), Andreas Glück (Renew), Nicolás González Casares (S&D), Nina Carberry (PPE), Alexander Bernhuber (PPE), Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral (PPE), Liesbet Sommen (PPE), Wouter Beke (PPE), Danuše Nerudová (PPE), Biljana Borzan (S&D), Jana Toom (Renew), Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE), Ingeborg Ter Laak (PPE), Tom Berendsen (PPE), Jeroen Lenaers (PPE)
Bluetongue virus is spreading throughout Europe’s livestock herds. In Belgium, a large majority of livestock farms have been affected, already causing the loss of 11 000 sheep and 6 000 cattle, as well as a reduction in milk production. The situation is similar in the Netherlands. The number of outbreaks is also increasing in Luxembourg, France, Italy, Germany and Czechia.
The protective measures adopted for cattle and sheep vary from one Member State to another, leading to an increased administrative burden and additional costs for farmers. For example, some Member States reimburse part or all of the cost of the vaccine, while in other Member States, farmers have to cover the full cost of the vaccine themselves.
- 1.Is the Commission considering launching an EU bluetongue vaccination campaign and recommending reimbursement of the vaccine’s cost?
- 2.How is the Commission coordinating prevention and control measures between Member States?
- 3.How does the Commission plan to ensure that protective measures adopted by Member States to combat bluetongue do not hinder intra-EU trade?
Submitted: 26.9.2024