Graham Watson MEP

October 11, 2011 5:36 PM

Over 100,000 horses continue to suffer needless cruelty by being moved long distances for slaughter; one year after the European Parliament backed calls for action.

Today Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson met campaigners from World Horse Welfare to add his support to calls for urgent action to be taken by the European Commission.

Speaking in Brussels today, Graham Watson said:

"Last year Parliament called for an immediate end to this scandalous suffering. It's quite clear we need to close the Regulatory loopholes that allow this needless cruelty.

Thousands of horses continue to be trucked all over Europe for days on end, without enough food, water or rest. They suffer from stress, dehydration, and exhaustion and some die before arrival.

I was pleased to meet World Horse Welfare representatives again today, and I am urging animal welfare Commissioner, John Dalli to take action and carry out the clear will of the Parliament.

The Commission must take steps to review and improve the regulations, and ensure the laws we have are actually enforced."

Editor's notes:

Sir Graham became the first MEP to meet representatives of the World Horse Welfare today on their visit to Parliament.

Last year Sir Graham joined with 369 Euro MPs in the European Parliament to support a successful Written Declaration, supported by World Horse Welfare, that demanded action to end suffering endured by many horses transported across the European Union for slaughter. At the time a petition in support received 120,000 signatures from all over the EU.

See original declaration:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P7-DCL-2009-0054+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN

But 12 months on campaigners from World Horse Welfare remain concerned that the European Commission has not yet revised transport rules to stop needlessly long and cruel journeys.

For more information on World Horse Welfare's campaign see:

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/help-tomorrow/long-distance-transportation