The SNP has today published its priorities for animal welfare in Europe, outlining the important steps forward that SNP MEPs will fight to secure if elected in the European election on 22nd May.
Measures the SNP will fight for include an end to EU subsidies for bullfighting, the inclusion of standards of animal welfare that match the EU’s in bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, better enforcement of animal welfare legislation and new EU-wide minimum standards of animal care.
SNP MEP Alyn Smith and SNP candidate Toni Giugliano today launched the SNP’s priorities on a visit to the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Balerno, where the charity cares for hundreds of animals every year, many of which have been abused and abandoned.
Commenting, SNP MEP Alyn Smith said:
“The EU has a key role to play when it comes to protecting the welfare of animals not just in Europe, but around the world through the trade agreements we put in place with other countries.
“The EU is the world’s biggest market and that confers a great deal of power when it comes to insisting on minimum standards of animal welfare in trade agreements.
“That is the kind of action that SNP MEPs will be pushing for as we take our responsibility for the protection of animals very seriously.
“A vote for the SNP on Thursday is a vote for a group of MEPs who will work hard to secure better protections for animals and make promoting animal welfare a priority for Europe.”
SNP Candidate Toni Giugliano added:
“The work that the Scottish SPCA do is hugely important and I can’t think of a more appropriate place to launch our call for action than at one of their facilities.
“SNP MEPs will work hard in the next parliament to build on what has already been achieved and give animals the protection they deserve.”
You can view the animal welfare priorities here.
