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Opening remarks
OPENING REMARK BY DR. PAVEL POC
Member of Parliament,
Honorary President of the Workshop
Animal welfare is high on the European agenda, and by giving the
animals what they need we are proving that we are fulfilling our
human responsibilities. The EU is working on an animal welfare
agenda for several years. The 1988 Directive on welfare in farm
animals based on CE Convention refers
to 5 freedoms. The 2009 Lisbon treaty
introduced recognition that animals
are sentient beings. Legislative aspects
of animal welfare implementation is
subject to subsidiarity. Member states
of the EU have the responsibility to
enforce
implementation.
Animal
welfare indicators are important for
deciding on standards and thus guiding
legislation.
Attempts to press this agenda are high,
but it is difficult as the EC faces other
problems such as economic crises,
migration crisis etc. To date, agricultural
animals have been the focus of animal
welfare indicator research. European
zoos are working for conservation and
education. Because of their overall
importance it is necessary to assure their future by leading a new
focus on animal welfare for animal species in zoos. A guarantee
for the wellbeing of zoo animals is the societal basis for the
acceptance of zoos.
Therefore I am glad to be able to open this workshop as the
honorary president of this important effort to scientifically
investigate the state of welfare of zoo animals.
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| Opening remarks