President. − The next item is the report by Marit Paulsen, on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, on the evaluation and assessment of the Animal Welfare Action Plan 2006-2010 (A7-0053/2010).

  Marit Paulsen, föredragande. − Herr talman! Djurens välfärd är faktiskt något som de allra flesta medborgare i vårt Europa bryr sig om. Djurens välfärd är inte bara en fråga om djur. Det är också en fråga om vår egen identitet, vad vi tycker att vi är och att Europa är och vad vår civilisation ska innehålla och om respekten och hanteringen av dessa våra medresenärer i livet.

I min utvärdering, som är understödd av jordbruksutskottet, är det allra mesta av den femårsplan som parlamentet tog 2006 och som fru Jeggle var föredragande för genomfört någorlunda rimligt. Det fattas en bit som är mycket allvarlig, och det är efterlevnaden. Därför har jag när jag skissat på en kommande femårsplan – som jag och vi verkligen hoppas ska komma i år – satsat på att skärpa efterlevnaden av redan befintlig lagstiftning.

Det handlar framför allt just nu om direktivet om grisars liv, välfärd och hantering. Det handlar även om den evigt återkommande frågan om de långa och tidvis mycket plågsamma djurtransporterna. Så det handlar om efterlevnad, kontroll och sanktioner av de lagar, direktiv och förordningar vi redan har tagit.

Därutöver skulle jag vilja att vi hade lite nytänkande och lite helhetstänkande. Jag skulle vilja att vi hade en allmän djurskyddslag som sätter en grundläggande norm för Europa, EU och den inre marknaden och för vilka miniminivåer som ska finnas.

Detta är viktigt av två skäl. För det första på grund av konkurrensen inom unionen på den inre marknaden, det vill säga att ingen ska kunna konkurrera med vanvård av djur. Det andra och kanske allra viktigaste skälet är det faktum att vi ställer mycket höga krav på de europeiska bönderna och djurhållarna. Då måste det finnas ett skydd mot illojal konkurrens från tredje land. Det är alltså inte rimligt att vi ställer mycket höga krav om vi inte är beredda på att ha fair trade. Dessutom, vilket kanske inte alltid är så populärt, måste vi på ett eller annat sätt betala för djurens välfärd. Huruvida detta sker i butiken eller via skattsedeln är en annan diskussion. Därutöver måste vi få ett fast välorganiserat nätverk – alltså observera: ingen ny myndighet, utan samordningsfunktioner för de utomordentligt bra vetenskapliga institutioner vi redan har i Europa.

Sist men inte minst gäller det att få styrsel och kontroll på antibiotikaförbrukningen i djurhållningen. Nu pratar jag inte om risk för antibiotikarester i maten utan för antibiotikaresistens hos framför allt de zoonotiska bakterierna, som är ett oerhört hot mot folkhälsan.

  Chris Davies (ALDE). - Mr President, I want to refer to a piece of legislation with which the Commissioner – who was Energy Commissioner for five years – will be closely acquainted. That is the Laying Hens Directive, which requires the animal welfare standards of the cages in which egg-laying hens are kept to be upgraded by the end of next year.

I thought this would cost thousands. In fact, in many commercial centres it costs millions as large-scale industrial equipment is involved. Many countries have complied with the directive. Many farmers have invested money to ensure that animal welfare standards are raised to the required level, but I do not think we are likely to get compliance across the entire European Union by the end of next year.

I want to know what action the Commission will take, and what action it is initiating, to try and get compliance.

The rapporteur has called for a ban on trade in eggs which do not comply with the legislation. I am not sure that one can do that. However, I want to know that the Commission is being proactive in trying to ensure that Member States and their farmers keep to raising these animal welfare standards and that there is a level playing field for all.

  Michel Dantin (PPE). - Monsieur le Président, Mme Paulsen, merci pour votre rapport. Je voudrais saluer le travail qui a été fait par les différents rapporteurs fictifs dans le cadre de la préparation de ce dossier, en particulier celle de mon groupe, Mme Jeggle.

Cette question connaît une sensibilité différente entre les pays européens. Tous les producteurs, tous les consommateurs n'ont pas la même perception du sujet. Il n'en reste pas moins que, peu à peu, la réglementation européenne aboutit à créer une norme très stricte dont nous devons, me semble-t-il, beaucoup mieux nous servir dans les négociations internationales et, notamment, dans le contrôle des produits qui sont importés.

Mais comme cela a déjà été dit, ces règles ont un coût et on s'aperçoit chaque jour que leur coût est plus élevé pour les éleveurs, plus élevé pour les différents opérateurs à un moment où, justement, la rentabilité de l'agriculture est profondément affectée. Voilà donc bien une justification de la politique agricole commune. Si nous dépensons chaque année cent euros par habitant pour financer une politique agricole commune, le bien-être animal est l'une des raisons qui nécessite cette compensation.

  Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă (S&D). - Felicitări doamnei Paulsen, care, prin acest raport, oferă soluţii legate de bunăstarea animalelor şi de problemele pe care le ridică acest capitol în cadrul politicilor europene. Este cunoscut faptul că sănătatea animală presupune bunăstarea acestora, un anumit confort biologic minimal, fără de care nu este posibilă exprimarea integrală a vitalităţii, inclusiv a comportamentului natural, adecvat schimbărilor ce intervin în mediul de viaţă.

De aceea, consider că la nivelul Uniunii Europene trebuie menţinută îmbunătăţirea şi creşterea competitivităţii sectorului agricol prin promovarea şi respectarea normelor în vigoare cu privire la bunăstarea animalelor, dar şi în conformitate cu cerinţele privind protecţia acestora. Aceasta presupune ca statele membre să aibă în vedere revizuirea tehnologiilor de creştere a animalelor şi înlocuirea tehnologiilor vechi cu alte tehnologii, moderne şi performante, care ţin seama de cerinţele fiziologice ale animalelor şi permit valorificarea în cele mai bune condiţii a potenţialului biologic productiv al animalelor şi care duc la o siguranţă alimentară mult mai ridicată. Bineînţeles că acest lucru are în vedere atât alocarea unor fonduri corespunzătoare acestui domeniu, cât şi utilizarea eficientă a oportunităţilor de sprijin date de acestea pentru ca statele membre să investească în soluţii inovatoare şi moderne destinate bunăstării animalelor.

Consider că, pentru găsirea celor mai bune soluţii, un rol important îl poate avea participarea cetăţenilor şi a societăţii civile la elaborarea şi realizarea unor programe în acest domeniu pliate pe realităţile din fiecare stat membru.

  Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE). - Arvoisa puhemies, eläinten hyvinvointi mittaa myös meidän eurooppalaisten ihmisten sivistystasoa. Euroopan unionin on pidettävä huoli siitä, että lainsäädäntö on ajan tasalla ja valvonta toimii. Tällä hetkellä molemmissa asioissa on puutteita.

Täällä on otettu esille eläinkuljetus. Me olemme katsoneet raakoja ja kovia filmejä televisiosta, ja tässä asiassa sekä kaikissa eläinten hyvinvointiin liittyvissä asioissa toivoisin komissiolta ripeää toimintaa, jotta me voisimme olla varmoja siitä, että eläimille taataan kunnollinen kohtelu.

  Andris Piebalgs, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, I would like to thank Parliament, and in particular Mrs Paulsen, for the own-initiative report on EU Animal Welfare Action Plan. The report is not only a reflection of what has passed, but also contains important and useful ideas for a future strategy on animal welfare.

The Action Plan, adopted in 2006, has basically been a success. It has brought together separate EU initiatives into a single vision on animal welfare, and its implementation has been broadly satisfactory. That said, the Commission shares the view expressed during this catch-the-eye session that enforcement remains a serious issue and efforts need to be maintained and enhanced to ensure proper implementation.

Regarding the question from Chris Davies, we will provide a written answer on that particular question but, basically, the Commission is focused on implementation. The rules adopted should be implemented. It is not only about the rule of law, but also about fair competition.

We also agree on the need to promote fair competition between EU and non-EU producers. Animal welfare is also a ‘non-trade concern’ that has to be defended and explained during the WTO negotiations. Our future strategy will have to make that clear.

I note the call for a new action plan for 2011-15, and am pleased to inform you that the Commission has already started work in that direction. Our ambition is to establish a new strategy for animal welfare that will adopt a holistic approach, taking into account the overall costs for EU producers and the effects of welfare measures on their competitiveness.

As mentioned in the report, Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union underlines the need for consideration for all animals. The idea of a general European animal welfare law, encompassing all animals, is also a very interesting one. Such a general law could be the basis for future initiatives, including legislation, but also information to the consumer, education, research and promotion of higher standards.

I also note and appreciate the support for the establishment of a European network of reference centres for animal welfare. This would assist EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders in their actions to promote animal welfare initiatives.

I share your opinion that the future strategy should carefully look at costs and competitiveness. We must ensure consistency between our policies, keeping in mind the overall sustainability of our proposals from a global perspective.

The report also stressed that the EU budget should correspond to our ambitions – in particular by providing sufficient resources for research, new technologies and techniques in the field of animal welfare. It also stressed the need for sufficient resources for proper monitoring and support to EU producers.

As I have said, the Commission welcomes all these ideas – which collectively show that animal welfare is high on the EU’s agenda. The Commission plans to present a new EU strategy for animal welfare in 2011.

  President. − The debate is closed. The vote will take place in two weeks’ time, during the part-session in Brussels.

Written statements (Rule 149)

  Véronique Mathieu (PPE), par écrit. – Le bien-être animal est une question importante. La réglementation européenne en la manière doit être appliquée avec rigueur comme le préconise le rapport de Madame Paulsen. Nous devons aussi être vigilent à ce que les normes sur le bien-être animal imposées dans l’UE soient appliquées réciproquement aux produits qui entrent sur le territoire européen. En effet, nos agriculteurs comme l’industrie agroalimentaire européenne ne doivent pas être pénalisés alors qu'ils engagent des frais supplémentaires pour répondre aux exigences de l’UE. Les normes en matière de bien-être animal doivent cohabiter avec la politique commerciale européenne, avec la protection de nos emplois ou encore avec la pratique des activités cynégétiques permettant une régulation de la faune indispensable à l’équilibre de la biodiversité. Par ailleurs, j'exprime mes réserves quant à la création d’un réseau européen de centres de références en matière de bien-être animal. Etant rapporteur sur la décharge 2008 des agences décentralisées de l’UE, je connais bien la problématique de la création des agences qui malheureusement n'a pas de cohérence globale. Cette question, sur laquelle se penche le groupe de travail interinstitutionnel sur les agences, doit être résolue avant d'envisager la création de nouvelles agences.