Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament (or to the institution’s public portal) expressing their views on current issues and/or requesting action from the Parliament. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) looks into these issues and replies to the messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages calling on the European Union to adopt measures for legal protection of animal rights. Citizens first began to write to the President on this subject in March 2023, in the context of the risk that a 2014 Portuguese law criminalising the mistreatment or abandonment of pets is declared unconstitutional. Citizens are calling on the EU to act to protect pets.
Please find below the main points of the reply sent to citizens who took the time to write to the President of the European Parliament on this matter (in English and Portuguese).
Main points made in the reply in English
Under European Union law, the European Commission is the only institution that can submit proposals for legislation. The EU takes full account of animal welfare requirements when defining its policies on agriculture, fisheries, transport, the internal market, research and technological development and space. This protection is enshrined in the EU Treaties.
However, the welfare of pet animals remains the sole responsibility of each individual EU country and is not subject to EU-wide rules.
The Council of Europe’s European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals is not part of EU law, although it has been ratified by several EU countries, including Portugal. The European Union and the Council of Europe work independently.
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, and especially its Companion Animals Working Group. This is an informal inter-party platform, where Members of the European Parliament can exchange views on animal welfare and promote contact between Members and civil society. They do not, however, represent the official position of the European Parliament.
Main points made in the reply in Portuguese
Nos termos do direito da União Europeia, a Comissão Europeia é a única instituição que pode apresentar propostas de legislação. Na definição das políticas da União nos domínios da agricultura, da pesca, dos transportes, do mercado interno, da investigação e desenvolvimento tecnológico e do espaço, a União plenamente tem em conta as exigências em matéria de bem-estar dos animais. Esta proteção está consagrada nos Tratados da UE.
No entanto o bem-estar dos animais de companhia continua a ser da exclusiva responsabilidade de cada país da UE e não está sujeito a regras a nível da União Europeia.
No que diz respeito à Convenção Europeia para a Proteção dos Animais de Companhia do Conselho da Europa, esta convenção não faz parte do direito da União, embora tenha sido ratificada por vários países da UE, incluindo Portugal. Além disso, a União Europeia e o Conselho da Europa trabalham independentemente.
Finalmente, gostaríamos de chamar sua atenção para o Intergrupo para o Bem-Estar e Conservação dos Animais, e especialmente o seu grupo de trabalho sobre animais de companhia, que é uma plataforma informal interpartidária onde os deputados ao Parlamento Europeu podem trocar opiniões sobre questões de bem-estar animal e promover o intercâmbio entre os deputados e a sociedade civil. Todavia, não representam a posição oficial do Parlamento Europeu.
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