Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
23.3.2020
The Commission is aware that the welfare situation of dogs — which lies under the responsibility of the Member States — may be problematic in some Member States.
In 2019, the Commission started an evaluation of the EU animal welfare strategy 2012-2015[1] expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
In parallel, in the context of the European Green Deal[2], the Commission intends to present a Farm to Fork Strategy in spring 2020 . As part of the strategy, the Commission will also consider the welfare of animals.
Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union[3] states that, in ‘formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals (…)’.
Any proposal by the Commission on animal welfare has to be considered within the above framework.