In order to familiarise the newly elected Parliament with EU animal welfare policy and encourage support, Eurogroup for Animals, the EP Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and possibly the Italian Presidency will co-host a one day conference on Tuesday 7th October 2014 in the European Parliament which will see the intervention of speakers from the EU-institutions and from government as well as of experts from academia, the industry and animal welfare NGOs. The agenda is still being developed but it is planned to structure the event in four sessions around the following themes:
- A five year framework to make a difference – This session will refer to the current situation of animal welfare policy in the EU and highlight the challenges for the coming five years. There will be interventions about the planned Animal Welfare Framework Law and about dossiers that need to be finalised during this term such as the animal health law, the proposals on the cloning of animals for food production, novel foods, the biodiversity strategy, wildlife trade and an EU strategy for alternatives to animal testing.
- Protecting the consumer and the environment – The goal is to show how animal welfare can impact society as a whole. The session will look at sustainable farming, the sustainable food industry and food consumption as well as on a mandatory method of production labelling.
- Widening the welfare benefits – The session will highlight the urgent need for better enforcement of existing animal welfare legislation but will point out as well the importance of non- legislative initiatives. A particular focus will be placed on free trade agreements with third countries and on voluntary initiatives which can be very successful in delivering concrete benefits for the welfare of animals. It is envisaged to have also an intervention on investment policy by international finance institutions relating to the farm animal sector.
- Developing a programme of action – the role and activities of the EP Animal Welfare Intergroup will be presented and Eurogroup for Animals will launch its publication “Areas of Concern” a compendium of fact sheets on the key items of the legislative agenda, with concise information on the concerns and on what needs to be done.
An exhibition displaying information about the activities of Eurogroup’s member organisations and of the EP Animal Welfare Intergroup will complement the event. It will be open for the public from Tuesday7 th to Thursday 9th October. Both the conference and the exhibition will take place in the Yehudi Menuhin space of the PHS building in the European Parliament in Brussels.