MEPs debate the European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe” to ban the rearing and killing of animals exclusively for fur production in the EU. The initiative 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. The initiative “Fur Free Europe” collected 1,502,319 valid signatures from all EU countries. Opening statement by Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), author and Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

animal welfare (T)

animal health (T)

IVANOVA, Iliana (EPP, BG)

WIEZIK, Michal (Renew, SK)

European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe": opening statement by Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), author and Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/72691375/1697128100817_I247290Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), I thank you for giving me the floor. Honourable members, 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.

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), 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. We need a proper response from the Commission in that way, the ECI would be an essential tool of participatory democracy.

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEZIK (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 fur. The reasons are quite pragmatic. Fur farming is in stark contradiction to the animal's nature. It is cruel. There is a risk of many risks. There is a real risk that many diseases may be spread to COVID 19. Bird Flu. And there are huge risks to biodiversity.

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), I am pleased by the following. At the EU Council in June Member States also responded to this European Citizens Initiative by calling on the Commission to ban fur farming across the entire EU. 14 Member States have already banned fur farming. So far, only one country in the world has banned the sale of fur: Israel. I believe that this initiative is extremely important. We call for a legislative proposal from the Commission.

SOUNDBITE (Slovak), Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), We hope that we will soon see tangible steps taken by the commission. I want to believe. What Mrs. von der Leyen said is that if it matters to Europe, it matters to us. That should not be empty words.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Presidente. Honourable Chair, Honourable Members. Fur Free Europe, as was just mentioned, is the 10th successful European Citizens Initiative since 2012 when this mechanism was introduced and the fourth this year to which the Commission will respond. It is also the sixth initiative concerning animals, which shows the importance that EU citizens attribute to animal welfare.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European 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 (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Last week, the European Parliament organised a public hearing where the initiative organisers presented their objectives and engaged in a fruitful debate with members of this House. Through this initiative, citizens request the EU to prohibit the keeping and killing of animals for fur production and to prohibit the placing of farmed animal fur on the EU market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, The Commission gives high importance to ideas submitted via European citizens initiatives, and I assure you that we will examine these requests with the greatest attention. To date, at least 16 Member States have already banned fur farming, either across the board or for certain species.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Animal welfare is and will remain a priority for the Commission. A recent example of that is the adoption in early 2023 new rules governing the transport of animals by sea. We also promote animal welfare via the EU Platform on Animal Welfare or the EU Reference Centres for animal welfare, whose remit has been broadened. We carry out regular audits and controls to enforce existing EU animal welfare legislation. Moreover, the Commission will present by the end of this year a proposal to revise the EU rules on the protection of animals during transport.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, The Commission takes all European citizens initiatives very seriously. For us, to prepare our response, it will be important to carefully assess all aspects of the initiative's requests based on solid scientific evidence and an assessment of the economic, social, environmental and legal aspects.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, We are also looking at fur farming from a one health perspective and closely monitor the SARS-CoV-2 and high path avian influenza risks in those farms. The work of the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is crucial in this regard. The views and support of this house are important. Hence, I welcome today's debate, which provides an important opportunity to gather more insights on this initiative. I'm looking forward to hearing your views. Thank you.