22
Oct
2024
Watch
Question Time with Commissioners – Situation of animal health in Europe: how to prevent and prepare for future sanitary crises in agriculture
Madam President, Commissioner, of course there are more and more animal health crises, and we have a very big crisis from north to south of the European Union with the spread of bluetongue among ruminants: thousands and thousands of farms affected, veterinarians do not supply. If we listen to farmers, the most common expressions are "uncertainty" and "desperation": the ruin for many farmers who suffer another sledgehammer in an activity that is extremely precarious. Therefore, action is urgently needed now. On the blue tongue, Commissioner, you said that you cannot give a calendar: But it was detected in spring and we are in late autumn! This is intolerable; farmers, especially, cannot wait, because this is urgent: Thousands of livestock are dying and this is an economic crisis with a very large impact also on the agri-food sector. We call for a mass vaccination, urgent and funded by the European Union. Is the European Commission willing to finance it? And don't tell me that this is over and that the new College of Commissioners has to come: this cannot wait, farmers cannot wait. We demand compensatory direct aid for those affected by bluetongue and the activation of the necessary funds and mechanisms. There is a surveillance law that has to be enforced and that has to be co-financed, and you have clearly said that the European Commission is co-financing less and less: That cannot be the case, the Member States cannot be held fully responsible, because that is why we also have European legislation, and the European Union's assistance and monitoring have certainly not worked. I would like you to explain to us whether you are going to remedy this situation within the competence of the European Union.