Earlier this year, the EU agriculture ministers from several countries, including the Netherlands, issued an urgent call to end fur farming throughout the EU. They emphasized the ethical and environmental issues surrounding the fur industry and urged a speeding up of efforts to put an end to this practice.
No European Commissioner was present during the presentation of the petition results in Brussels, to the dissatisfaction of several MEPs such as the Dutch Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals). “The citizen initiative is the only form of direct democracy the EU has, but the European Commission seems to take neither the instrument nor animal welfare seriously.”
The 'Fur Free Europe' campaign has not only gained support from EU citizens but has also impressed the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which praised the campaign's efforts. The EESC, as an EU advisory body, has encouraged the campaign and recognized it as an important contribution to the debate on animal welfare in Europe.
Critics argue that the fur industry also poses a public health risk. Animals such as minks are susceptible to viruses, including the COVID-19 virus. It has been shown that rapid mutations can occur within the fur industry, which also pose a danger to humans.
Hazekamp stressed that both an EU-wide production ban and an import ban are necessary. European policymakers remain divided on this issue, with some countries having already taken steps to ban fur farming while others hesitate due to economic interests and employment in the fur industry.
It is still unclear whether delays in various animal welfare laws will impact the fur ban already advocated by the agriculture ministers. Next week, the Party for the Animals will still bring the citizen initiative to the attention of the European Commission during a plenary debate in Strasbourg.