Over 1,5 million citizens supported the European Citizens' Initiative, 'Fur Free Europe’, which calls for an EU ban on the keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production. The organisers also seek to prohibit selling fur from these animals, as well as products containing this fur across the Union. This news item shows footage of the MEPs debate on this initiative against the rearing and killing of animals exclusively for fur production in the EU.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

animal welfare (T)

JAHR, Peter (EPP, DE)

IVANOVA, Iliana (EPP, BG)

WIEZIK, Michal (Renew, SK)

IJABS, Ivars (Renew, LV)

SIDL, Günther (S&D, AT)

GUERREIRO, Francisco (Greens/EFA, PT)

Delivery EE2024 (T)

European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe": extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEIZIK, (RENEW, SK), This is the fourth successful European Citizens Initiative of ten successful initiatives. This is the fourth dealing with animal welfare. It has been overwhelmingly successful. Signature collection was closed 2.5 months early and over 1.5 million signatures were collected. As far as the Petitions Committee is concerned, we have to say that this ECI tool is key to direct democracy in a cross-border area. It is an instrument that gives citizens a strong voice.

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEIZIK, (RENEW, SK), So, what are the main calls in this ECI? Firstly, end the breeding and killing of animals for the sole purpose of fur production and end the placing on the EU market of from farm animals and any products containing such for the reasons are quite pragmatic. Farming of fur farming is in stark contradiction to the animal's nature. It is crucial there is a risk of many risks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, Over 1.5 million citizens supported this initiative and this level of support was collected within ten months. This shows not only the dynamism of the European Citizens Initiative as a tool, but also the commitment of so many engaged citizens across our union to campaign for their ideas and make an impact in the causes they believe.

SOUNDBITE, G&uuml;nther SIDL (German), (S&amp;D, AT), So, we are talking about Mink and Fox, for example. The conditions are really unacceptable. The cages are tiny. The animals can barely move. They cannot carry out their natural behaviors that is infected wounds, cannibalism, all sorts of horrible aspects. And this is just to create luxury items. And in 2023, this isn't necessary at all.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Francisco GUERREIRO, (Greens/EFA, PT), The Commission talks a good game about animal welfare, but when it comes to taking action, all we hear is debate and words. We have rules on animal transport, but animals, livestock are not being properly protected. Ethically, this is not right and there is no economic justification. We need to achieve this goal.

SOUNDBITE (German), Peter JAHR, (EPP, DE), Nobody would suggest that we use the skin of the cattle to produce leather, but we throw away the rest of the animal. So, when it comes to fur production, that's the kind of issue we're talking about. So one of the questions we do have to ask ourselves is what can we do with what remains of the body? Can we produce food for humans, bio gas? I'm not sure. But clearly within the political discussion, we have to address those aspects. The whole idea of rearing animals, purely gypsies fur is something we should reject.

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Ivars IJABS, (RENEW, LV), Just keeping and killing animal is for furs is unethical. It is an issue of humanism and of people simply don't admit such killing anymore. But this is an issue of fair competition. And actually we can see that during COVID, we experienced a lot of risks posed to people's health as well. From 1980, the worst invasive species in Europe are coming from fur farming.