20
Jan
2022
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Protection of animals during transport - Protection of animals during transport (Recommendation) (debate)
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we transport more than 1.5 billion animals a year. Millions of them cross the borders of the European Union after days and days piled up at sea or on the road, suffering from heat or cold, lack of rest, water or food. All this to happen in countries where the EU cannot even control how they will be treated. Others are transported from one Member State to another, sometimes just after being torn from their mother, because of this absurd specialisation of territories that gives birth to an animal in one country to be reared in a second and slaughtered in a third. They too suffer from stress, temperatures, or even abuse. This has been widely demonstrated by the work of our Committee of Inquiry. Ladies and gentlemen, if we are not able to export animals without suffering, then we must stop. If we are not able to transport the unweaned animals while respecting their needs, then we must stop. We can do otherwise: developing cold chains, limiting transport times and, above all, rethinking our farming system by reducing our consumption of animal products. Associations and European citizens have been alerting us for years and calling for action on animals. Colleagues, I urge you not to miss this unique opportunity to make a great act of civilization and progress in moving towards the end of animal abuse. Make no mistake, the constant violence we exert against the rest of life is the corollary of the incredible violence that prevails in our societies. Let's say it loud and clear: the progress of the human condition is inseparable from the progress of the animal condition. We must move resolutely towards a society of harmony between human beings and with the whole of life.