Last News and Events
25.04.2018 – EU Commissioner for Health, Vytenis Andriukaitis: “We need to re-recognize that animals are sentient beings.”
FOUR PAWS hosted the first International Animal Welfare Summit in Vienna, Austria Brussels, 25th April 2018 – International animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS hosted the first International Animal Welfare Summit in Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna on 24th April. The theme of the event: “Animal welfare – question of the future or luxury problem?”. More than 300 guests were in attendance to hear speeches and discussions from experts from the fields of science, nutrition, economics and arts. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen took over the patronage for this first of its kind event. In his humorous speech, he spoke of animal welfare "as a matter of the heart". Animal welfare was "thank…
21.03.2018 – International coalition to fight online trafficking of wild animals
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), TRAFFIC, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare launch ‘The Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online’. The goal is to reduce by wildlife trafficking online 80% by 2020! Giant tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft join in partnership to work together. Read more on https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/wildlife-watch-tech-companies-online-wildlife-crime-coalition/.
01.01.2018 – The Bulgarian Presidency (First Half 2018)
The Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU, part of the Presidency Trio Programme with Estonia and Austria, is taking over the Estonian Presidency for the first time ever and will run from 1 January until 30 June 2018. Its slogan "United We Stand Strong” reflects its country history and the will to work towards a united and solidary Europe. With the European elections scheduled for June 2019, Bulgaria will focus its program on the EU policy cycle, which is gradually coming to its end, based on four key areas: the future of Europe and young people, with a focus on economic growth and social cohesion; the European Perspective and Connectivity…
20.11.2017 – EU Online survey on ivory trade.
The EU Commission has launched an online survey to find out what EU citizens think about the ivory trade and the actions that the EU should take against ivory trafficking. The responses can be submitted until 8th December 2017. The numbers of African elephants are endangered by poaching and every year 20,000 animals are killed! The ivory trade, which is still going on across Europe, fuels this disaster. This survey is an opportunity to encourage the EU to take the strongest possible action to end the ivory trade and poaching. Survey: https://goo.gl/J4tgE1 Help-Sheet: http://bit.ly/2hpczaL
Disappointment after the 2nd meeting of the EU Animal Welfare Platform
The EU Commission should take animal welfare more seriously 13.11.2017 – Brussels. On Friday 10th November, the second meeting of the EU Animal Welfare Platform took place in Brussels. As announced during the last meeting, the EU Commission confirmed that two sub-groups will be created: one on transport should be finalised by the end of this year, and a second one on pig welfare should be established after the next Platform meeting in June 2018. Many Member States and other stakeholders requested the establishment of more sub-groups, in order to tackle important animal welfare issues, in particular on illegal trade in dogs and cats, and on equine welfare. Sadly, the…