On 28th of October, 2015 the European Parliament voted
to end EU-subsidies for bullfighting
Now it's up to the EU-Commission
to respond to this demand
Currently, subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) allow Spanish (and some Portuguese and French) farmers to use Single Farm Payment on hectares used to rear bulls used in the fights. An amendment passed on 28th of October, 2015 means that the European Parliament has voted against this use, followed by an astonishing victory of 438 votes to 199 (50 abstentions) on the non-binding resolution that says ‘CAP appropriations or any other appropriations from the budget should not be used for the financing of lethal bullfighting activities'.
199 MEPs - of which we will publish the names as soon as they will be made public - voted against the following amendment:
26 c. Reiterates that CAP appropriations or any other appropriations from the budget should not be used for financing lethal bull fighting activities; recalls that such funding is a clear violation of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (Council Directive 98/58/EC)
The inclusion of the word "lethal" is worrying as it would exclude all the bulls bred, used and abused in the many other sadistic fiestas such as the 'Toro Jubilo', the bull-runs, like the famous and still popular one held in Pamplona and others, as well - and most importantly - the Portuguese bullfights where the bull is/should not be killed in the ring, but is often being killed or simply left to perish behind the scenes, conveniently out of public sight.
According to a 2013 report called 'Torres and Taxes' compiled by Spanish MEPs, no less than €129.6 million were spent by the European Union on subsidising bullfighting each year.
In an article published on the website of the GREEN PARTY, MEP Keith Taylor said:
“I am delighted that MEPs have voted today to stop EU money being used to prop up the bullfighting industry.
“Bullfighting is barbaric and cruel and, without the support of misplaced EU farming subsidies, it’s a failing business. While the vote today will not stop bullfighting, it could be a massive blow to the industry - stopping millions of pounds going to those involved.”
Yes, indeed: it COULD be a massive blow. IF the 28 Finance Ministers of the EU Member States agree with the Parliament's vote.
That said, in a next step, the Parliament’s report will be sent to the Commission, who in turn will sent it to the Finance Ministers of all 28 Members States, in order to reach an agreement with the European Parliament as to whether the budget appropriations may now still be used to subsidise the breeding of bulls meant to die in bullfights. Or rather not...
199 MEPs - of which we will publish the names as soon as they will be made public - voted against the following amendment:
26 c. Reiterates that CAP appropriations or any other appropriations from the budget should not be used for financing lethal bull fighting activities; recalls that such funding is a clear violation of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (Council Directive 98/58/EC)
The inclusion of the word "lethal" is worrying as it would exclude all the bulls bred, used and abused in the many other sadistic fiestas such as the 'Toro Jubilo', the bull-runs, like the famous and still popular one held in Pamplona and others, as well - and most importantly - the Portuguese bullfights where the bull is/should not be killed in the ring, but is often being killed or simply left to perish behind the scenes, conveniently out of public sight.
According to a 2013 report called 'Torres and Taxes' compiled by Spanish MEPs, no less than €129.6 million were spent by the European Union on subsidising bullfighting each year.
In an article published on the website of the GREEN PARTY, MEP Keith Taylor said:
“I am delighted that MEPs have voted today to stop EU money being used to prop up the bullfighting industry.
“Bullfighting is barbaric and cruel and, without the support of misplaced EU farming subsidies, it’s a failing business. While the vote today will not stop bullfighting, it could be a massive blow to the industry - stopping millions of pounds going to those involved.”
Yes, indeed: it COULD be a massive blow. IF the 28 Finance Ministers of the EU Member States agree with the Parliament's vote.
That said, in a next step, the Parliament’s report will be sent to the Commission, who in turn will sent it to the Finance Ministers of all 28 Members States, in order to reach an agreement with the European Parliament as to whether the budget appropriations may now still be used to subsidise the breeding of bulls meant to die in bullfights. Or rather not...
Please sign the petition
calling on the EU-Commission to respect the will of the EU Parliament - who represents the EU citizens - and to stop subsidizing the
breeding of bulls meant to die in bullfights
To:
Mr Jean-Claude Juncker - President of the European Commision
Mr Frans Timmermans - First Vice-President of the European Commission
and to:
Mrs Cecilia Wikström - Chair of the EU-Parliament's Committee on Petitions - for our petition to be registered with the European Parliament and forwarded to the Finance Ministers of all 28 EU Member States
With copy to:
Mr Bas Eickhout - Dutch Member of the European Parliament
Mr Janusz Wojciechowski - President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Mr Keith Taylor - Vice-President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Mr Stefan Bernhard Eck - Vice-President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Dear Mr Juncker,
Dear Mr Timmermans,
Dear Mrs Wikström,
Dear Mr Eickhout,
Dear Mr Wojciechowski
Dear Mr Taylor,
Dear Mr Eck,
On 28th of October, 2015, 438 out of 687 Members of the European Parliament - meaning those that represent the European citizens - voted in favor of the amendment proposed by the Greens/EFA group calling for an end to EU-subsidies paid for raising bulls to die in bullfights.
The 28th of October, 2015 was a day of celebration for animal rights organisations, for animal rights activists, and for all those millions of good people with compassion and common sense, not only in the EU, but indeed around the entire world.
This important decision won't mean the end of bullfights - of this horrific, outdated practice that has no place in a civilized world, and most certainly not in the EU - per se, but it is a very important step in the right direction and it would indeed be a big blow to the bullfighting industry, bringing its end ever closer. The European citizens are proud of their MEPs, and are now turning their faces towards the EU-Commission, awaiting that the Parliament's decision be put into practice.
With this petition, we are calling on the Commission, and the Finance Ministers of all 28 EU-Member States, to respect the vote of the European Parliament representing the European citizens, and to agree with the European Parliament with respect to the EU budget for 2016 and to stop the budget appropriations that may be used to subsidise activities associated with bullfighting.
Yours respectfully,
[Signer's name]
Mr Jean-Claude Juncker - President of the European Commision
Mr Frans Timmermans - First Vice-President of the European Commission
and to:
Mrs Cecilia Wikström - Chair of the EU-Parliament's Committee on Petitions - for our petition to be registered with the European Parliament and forwarded to the Finance Ministers of all 28 EU Member States
With copy to:
Mr Bas Eickhout - Dutch Member of the European Parliament
Mr Janusz Wojciechowski - President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Mr Keith Taylor - Vice-President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Mr Stefan Bernhard Eck - Vice-President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Dear Mr Juncker,
Dear Mr Timmermans,
Dear Mrs Wikström,
Dear Mr Eickhout,
Dear Mr Wojciechowski
Dear Mr Taylor,
Dear Mr Eck,
On 28th of October, 2015, 438 out of 687 Members of the European Parliament - meaning those that represent the European citizens - voted in favor of the amendment proposed by the Greens/EFA group calling for an end to EU-subsidies paid for raising bulls to die in bullfights.
The 28th of October, 2015 was a day of celebration for animal rights organisations, for animal rights activists, and for all those millions of good people with compassion and common sense, not only in the EU, but indeed around the entire world.
This important decision won't mean the end of bullfights - of this horrific, outdated practice that has no place in a civilized world, and most certainly not in the EU - per se, but it is a very important step in the right direction and it would indeed be a big blow to the bullfighting industry, bringing its end ever closer. The European citizens are proud of their MEPs, and are now turning their faces towards the EU-Commission, awaiting that the Parliament's decision be put into practice.
With this petition, we are calling on the Commission, and the Finance Ministers of all 28 EU-Member States, to respect the vote of the European Parliament representing the European citizens, and to agree with the European Parliament with respect to the EU budget for 2016 and to stop the budget appropriations that may be used to subsidise activities associated with bullfighting.
Yours respectfully,
[Signer's name]