The meeting, chaired by Anja Hazekamp (NL, GUE/NGL), focused on the implementation and the evaluation of the EU legislation and offered suggestions on how it could be improved in the future.

Ute Goerres, administrative agent from DG ENV at the European Commission, opened the floor with a presentation on the Zoos Directive and the evaluation of its implementation. The EU adopted in 1999 the Zoos Directive to strengthen the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of wildlife. Animal welfare is a major consideration in this legislation, even if it is not the main objective. The Directive establishes a compulsory and centrally regulated licensing of zoo facilities in the EU and outlines the conservation, education or research conditions that the zoos need to fulfil to obtain a license. In November 2018, the Commission published an evaluation report on the Directive and its impact. The education and public awareness objectives have generally been achieved but only partly the conservation measures.