Member States want next EU Environment Action Plan to be the vehicle for a greener Europe

Posted on 12/06/2012

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the European Council’s Conclusions published today which state that the 7th EAP should link with the EU sustainability strategy and integrate environmental protection in all EU policies including agriculture and trade.

The Council supports a strong Environment Programme and Eurogroup welcomes the position taken. The Commission must take note and ensure that it boosts sustainable consumption and production by among other things promoting green public procurement and sustainable food production with high standards of animal health and welfare.

“These conclusions are a positive message which the Council is sending and we congratulate them on this. By integrating environmental objectives to all relevant policy areas the Council is expressing its vision for a Green Europe which will protect the environment, improve the welfare of animals and contribute to sustainable development,”stated Sonja Van Tichelen, Director at Eurogroup for Animals.

Eurogroup believes that, among essential tools to improve the protection of the environment and of animal welfare in the EU, an environmental inspectorate is needed to ensure EU environmental standards are being respected. The adoption of strong policies to protect biodiversity should be high on the priority list, as well as the setting up of a strategy to reduce and phase out the overall number of animals used in research and safety testing.

{pt_widgets}