16
Mar
2023
Watch
Long term commitment to animal welfare (debate)
Mr President, bullfighting. This is the barbarism that defines the profound hypocrisy when we talk in this House about animal welfare. While Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union defines animals as sentient beings deserving of protection, in the same article we see these rights being crushed in favour of the supposed traditions of the Member States. With regard to bullfighting, the reality is indeed perverse in the European Union. Although this barbarity is limited to Portugal, France and Spain, the European Commission hides itself in Article 13 and refrains from curbing the presence of minors in bullfighting events, refuses to end the financing of these activities with money from the Common Agricultural Policy and remains silent when brave bulls are killed in the middle of the arenas for the sadistic pleasure of those who watch this aberration. It is therefore time for the European Commission to stop hiding behind the Member States and to announce, here and now, that the next revision of the Treaties will bring an end to the cruel, sadistic and violent bullfighting industry.