| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.11, No.46, 21.12.05 |
| Publication Date | 21/12/2005 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 22/12/05 EU governments are to consider ending subsidies for the exports of live cattle on Friday (23 December). This follows yesterday's (20 December) call by the European Commission for such subsidies to be scrapped immediately. The Commission's proposal came in response to the increased prices which Europe's beef farmers have commanded over the past few years. Unless a weighted majority of governments oppose the move at that meeting, the Commission will then be able to introduce the ban formally. European Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel also said that the proposal reflected public concern about the conditions of animals transported over long distances. While "very stringent rules and controls" have been imposed on live exports "experience has shown that 100% compliance with these rules cannot be ensured and that we cannot enforce those rules beyond our own borders", she added. The organisation Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) welcomed the Commission's proposal. Philip Lymbery, CIWF's chief executive, said: "This is an immensely important opportunity to end the subsidies which are responsible for great cruelties blighting the EU. We urge all EU countries to support this measure and withdraw the use of public money for private suffering." At 66,000 animals so far this year, most live cattle exported from the EU are destined for Lebanon. An internal Commission document says that EUR 52 million was paid in export refunds for live cattle in 2004. Germany accounted for the largest amount of these subsidies (EUR 29m), followed by France (EUR 13m), the Netherlands (EUR 4m), Austria (EUR 2.5m) and Ireland (EUR 2m). Member state authorities handling the subsidies refused to pay them for 408 export declarations, involving 2,160 animals, in that period. A total amount of EUR 1m was not paid out or recovered, with Germany accounting for 60% of that sum. The refusals were issued for several reasons, such as the death of animals, calving or miscarriages during transport. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
