Photo: Wildlife Reserves Singapore Today, the European Parliament adopted the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. The animal-related provisions included in the agreement are weak. While Singapore is known for being a wildlife trafficking hub and a centre for animal testing – both priorities for the EU – neither of these issues are addressed in the text. […]
Animal Welfare takes ground at the World Trade Organisation
Factory farming is not only very detrimental to the welfare of farmed animals, but it is also a prominent obstacle on our way to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Favouring extensive farming systems which are more sustainable through trade policy would contribute to reaching SDGs, with the additional potential benefit of delivering higher […]
NGO coalition asks the European Parliament to pause free trade agreement with Japan
On Wednesday 19 September, Eurogroup for Animals – as part of a coalition of NGOs – has called on Members of the European Parliament to put on hold the ratification of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (JEEPA) until real progress is made to strengthen “Trade and Sustainable Development” (TSD) Chapters. On Thursday 21 September, the […]
Leaked documents confirm a weakening of animal welfare provisions with Mercosur
Photo credits: Alex E. Proimos/Flickr The EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) are still negotiating their long-awaited trade agreement. How close they are to conclude a deal continues to be uncertain. A new round should take place in Montevideo in September, and as usual, many actors are presenting it as the final round […]
Eurogroup for Animals launches a study on biodiversity provisions in EU FTAs
From left to right: Dr Joanna Swabe (HSI Europe), Cécile Toubeau (T&E), Bernd Lange MEP, Stéphanie Ghislain (Eurogroup for Animals) On 5 September, Eurogroup for Animals – jointly with Transport & Environment, Fern and Humane Society International Europe – launched a study realized by the four NGOs on “Trade and Sustainable Development” (TSD) provisions […]
EU and Japan sign JEEPA amidst crisis over whaling
This week, the objective of the EU is clear: to show the world – and the US – that rules-based free trade works. The EU-Japan Summit, which has been postponed by a week and moved to Tokyo due to the floods that have been plaguing the country, will be the occasion to finally sign the […]
Will the EU soon stop importing cruel kangaroo meat?
Eurogroup for Animals has sent on 24 May a letter to Trade Commissioner Malmström and Health and Food Safety Commissioner Andriukaitis regarding the imports of kangaroo meat from Australia into the EU. The letter highlights the cruel conditions in which those kangaroos are hunted and the health issues raised by the meat processing. The documentary […]
Revamped EU-Mexico Trade Agreement creates groundbreaking precedent for animal welfare
On 21 April, the European Union and Mexico concluded the modernisation of the “Global Agreement”[1] they initially signed in 1997. The text now includes a chapter on animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance – sending a strong statement to the world that animal welfare matters and is critical to protect Europe’s values and Europeans’ health. Devoting […]
EU-Indonesia trade negotiations: The EU must show leadership on animal protection
From frogs and reptiles to chickens and apes, Indonesia is home to a tremendous amount of biodiversity. Many of these animals suffer from destruction of their natural habitats or from their own exploitation for economic purposes – or both. A lack of attention to them in the future EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement could only […]
Animal welfare seen by Europe as priority to harness globalisation
Eurogroup for Animals strongly welcomes the inclusion of animal welfare in a Commission Reflection Paper on Harnessing Globalisation released on 10 May 2017. This is a step forward for EU Trade Policy and Animal Welfare, but it is not the end. Animal welfare is receiving increasing attention, but still insufficient attention in European trade policy. […]