European Union

Working in the EU

Many of the issues that concern animal welfare today can only be tackled at a European level.

Britain’s membership of the European Union, where many animal welfare issues are debated, enables us to affect changes to animal welfare in 27 other European countries.

We work closely with Eurogroup for Animals in Brussels to ensure animal welfare has a strong voice at the heart of the EU decision making process.

For further information on the decision making process read our downloadable PDF: Guide to the European Union (PDF 15.2 KB)

Protection for animal welfare

Because of the Lisbon Treaty, which came into force on 1 December 2009, the welfare of animals has to be considered before any changes to European policies can be made. ‘Animal welfare impact assessments’ must be carried out and the policy has to go through the co-decision procedure.

This means that the parliament has a big say on issues, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This is why its so important that we lobby members of the European Parliament and ensure that our views are heard.

 

Read a fuller briefing by Eurogroup for Animals on the Lisbon Treaty and its consequences for animal welfare.

Current issues

Curent issues we have been working on include lobbying for food labelling law and the enforcement of live animal transport law.