As the first plenary of the new European Parliament took place in Strasbourg this week, Animal Action Greece is calling on the new Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to prioritize animal welfare, reflecting the strong demands of European citizens. This call is especially significant in Greece, where animal welfare has increasingly become a major concern.
In the recent elections we teamed up with three Greek members of Eurogroup for Animals; Dogs’ Voice, Πανελλήνια Φιλοζωική Ομοσπονδία – Hellenic Animal Welfare Federation and Ippothesis – Ιπποθεσις to ensure that Greece’s MEP’s act for animals by signing the Vote for Animals pledge.
The campaign resulted in 102 individuals who were elected to the European Parliament signing the Vote for Animals pledge from across Europe.
This includes representatives from all corners of the political spectrum, indicating broad support for animal protection initiatives.
The upcoming legislative term is crucial for animal welfare. We anticipate the implementation of concrete action plans, with a priority on revising long-overdue animal welfare legislation to ensure comprehensive protection for all animals. This revision is critical to fulfilling the European Commission’s (EC) commitment made in response to the End the Cage Age European Citizens Initiative (ECI), which aims to eliminate cage farming across the EU.
In addition, the EC is expected to propose legislation to ban fur farming and the sale of farmed fur products in the EU market, following the successful Fur Free Europe campaign in which we rallied in support, advocating for the cessation of fur farms and the sale of fur products. It gathered an impressive 1.5 million signatures, including 21,566 from Greece, all united in calling for a Fur Free Europe.
In a recent debate prior to the election of the European Commission’s President, Terry Reintke, emphasized that “animal welfare in Europe must be strengthened”.
Serafina Avramidou of Animal Action Greece highlighted the importance of this legislative term, “The momentum for animal welfare across Europe reflects the increasing compassion and awareness among Greek citizens. Our MEPs have a unique opportunity to lead by example, ensuring that the welfare of animals is placed at the forefront of the European legislative agenda. Greece has the potential to be a driving force in these reforms, and we must seize this opportunity to advocate for the highest standards of animal protection.”
As we look forward to the new legislative term, it is essential for Greek MEPs to actively participate in these initiatives, ensuring that the voices of Greek citizens and the welfare of animals are strongly represented in the European Parliament.
