Greece is failing to meet its animal welfare obligations
1.10.2024
Question for written answer E-001907/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Matthias Ecke (S&D)
Greece is failing to meet its obligations under Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals.
The animal welfare association Tierschutzinitiative ohne Grenzen e.V. imports cats and dogs from Greece to Germany; it has always had a licence to do so. That licence has now been withdrawn by a court because the association did not use the TRACES system when importing pet animals into Germany. According to that association and other animal welfare organisations (such as Tierschutzverein Südkreta e.V.[1] and Tiere in Not Griechenland e.V.[2]), Greece systematically refuses to provide the necessary data on the use of TRACES.
Consequently, the animal welfare association is being prevented from fulfilling its purpose.
- 1.Is the Commission aware of any other complaints from animal welfare organisations in the EU that Greece is failing to meet the obligations stemming from European animal welfare regulations, in particular with regard to the non-commercial movement of pet animals?
- 2.How does the Commission view Greece’s inadequate implementation of animal welfare obligations, in particular with regard to the transport of animals involving the TRACES system?
- 3.How does the Commission intend to ensure that Greece provides information in future, in particular since systematic refusal to provide animal transport data is a breach of EU law?
Submitted: 1.10.2024