Public consultation on EU-US high level working group on jobs and growth

Posted on 16/04/2012

The European Commission has opened a public consultation to gather input from all stakeholder groups for the EU-US high level working group on jobs and growth. This consultation with a deadline for submission of 23 April 2012 aims to identify policies and measures to help increase EU-US trade and investment to support mutually beneficial job creation, economic growth and international competitiveness.

The Transatlantic Animal Welfare Council (TAWC), which is set up to respond to developments in animal welfare-related transatlantic issues and to foster further bonds of cooperation between European and US-based animal protection organisations, takes the opportunity to submit comments. While highlighting in its comments the need to include measures to promote green growth, environment and animal protection, the TAWC recalls that animals are still affected today by trade in many ways and that improving animal welfare could benefit to the economy as it is closely linked to animal health and quality and innovation.

Overall, the TAWC urges the working group to investigate different policy measures to consider the fact that animals are not to be considered as mere goods but as sentient beings which need specific attention and respect and thereby reflect the desire of millions of Europeans.