Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

28.2.2013

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable member of the European Parliament that no mention of support for greyhound breeding is made in the Irish Rural Development Programme for 2007-13.

However, due to the shared management principles in place for the implementation of the EU rural development policy the Commission cannot impose outright bans on support for economic sectors. This rule remains in place also for the next programming period 2014-2020.

In the European Union Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012-2015a study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices is foreseen for the year 2014.

OJ C 346 E, 27/11/2013