Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

21.10.2010

The financing of actions aimed at the control and protection of stray dogs has been addressed by the Commission in the reply to Written Question E‑6744/10[1].

Initiatives for catching, sterilising and releasing or re-homing dogs or cats do not appear to come, even indirectly, within an area of competence of the EU. The EU has no competence to take measures in the field of welfare of animals as such, but needs to take animal welfare into account when formulating and implementing other EU policies. Animal welfare initiatives taken by the EU have always been linked with areas of competence of the Union such as agriculture, internal market or trade.

Therefore, there are no specific financing arrangements at EU level to support such initiatives.

• [1] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/QP-WEB

OJ C 243 E, 20/08/2011