A European parliamentary inquiry into animal transports is being launched. An overwhelming majority of the European Parliament agreed to a proposal from the Party for the Animals to conduct a thorough investigation into abuses in animal transports.
This is the first time a European parliamentary inquiry is established into animal protection and animal welfare. The new investigative committee, founded today in Brussels with 605 votes in favor, 53 against, and 31 abstentions, is tasked with investigating alleged violations of EU legislation regarding the protection of animals during transport.
The investigation will focus on how EU rules are implemented by member states and whether the European Commission properly enforces them, according to the adopted resolution. The inquiry will also examine how some EU countries issue permits for such transports but then fail to supervise them.
Dutch MEP Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals) called for such an inquiry after ongoing reports of horrific conditions aboard livestock transport ships. Hazekamp herself visited several European ports. “Animals were transported in extreme heat, mistreated, and loaded onto horrific ships that were completely unsuitable for transport.
This parliamentary inquiry committee will thoroughly investigate how it is possible that permits continue to be issued for animal transports that take place under illegal conditions. We want to ensure that all EU countries comply with the rules and no longer allow animal transports during extreme weather or for weeks-long journeys to countries outside Europe,” Hazekamp said.
European inquiry committees have the authority to summon witnesses and experts and to request documents from national and European government agencies. EU countries that refuse cooperation risk legal proceedings. Parliamentary inquiries are rare in Brussels. They can be launched ‘in the event of violations or mismanagement in the application of EU law.’ In the past, the European Parliament has used inquiry committees to investigate the Panama Papers (2016), Dieselgate (2015), and the BSE crisis (1996).