Greens call for EU ban on import of wild birds
10th Nov 2004
Trade is risk to wildlife, conservation and human health
The Green Party is today calling for a permanent end to the commercial importation of wild birds into the EU. Despite widespread action on wild bird trade in other parts of the world, the EU continues to import hundreds of thousands of birds caught in the wild, a practice which is now increasingly seen as draconian, unethical, and unnecessary.
Penny Kemp, environment spokesperson for the Green Party, commented: "It's about time the EU took action and banned wild bird imports for good; many countries have already banned it, why can't we do the same here?"
"There are so many good reasons for banning the trade, it's hard to believe the EU hasn't already done so. Firstly, there are risks to human health - international movements of wildlife amplify disease risks to humans, as well as livestock, and local wildlife, with disastrous effects on agriculture and economies."
Penny Kemp continued: "The trade is damaging to efforts to conserve endangered wildlife in their natural habitats, and is of course detrimental for the millions of individual birds inhumanely taken from the wild and exploited for profit."
Penny concluded: "Similar legislative changes made around the world have been successful, and banning the trade here will save millions of birds and aid sustainable eco-tourism in the birds' natural environment."
The Green Party's call is part of a wider campaign organised by non-governmental organisations: American Bird Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, Greenpeace, IFAW, Jane Goodall Institute, National Audubon Society, RSPCA, Pro Wildlife, and the World Parrot Trust.
European leaders meet in Rome to sign the Rome Treaty on the EU Constitution, and Greens look at National & European Asylum & Immigration legislation, as the EU moves from unanimous voting to 'majority' voting -
Blair brief on EU Constitution - 25th Oct 2004. During his monthly brief to the press Tony Blair stated that there is a definite red line on the EU Constitution. National taxes, foreign policy & national defence remain under national control.
Blair brief On Asylum & Immgration - 25th Oct 2004. Blair stated the government has secured the best of both world's:
retaining the option to opt in, into common european (EU) policy & legislation which is favourable to the national interest, and/or approved by the electorate - and
reserving the right not to opt in, ergo opt out & stay out of any policy & legislation which does not have national consent & approval.
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New EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is to face one of the hardest political challenges of his career on Monday when he faces a grilling by Euro-MPs in Brussels.
"MEPs will want to hear that Peter Mandelson will not be acting as Tony Blair's place-man in Europe," said Dr Lucas.
"The US challenge on the EU's regulatory approach to GM foods currently before the WTO will serve as a key litmus test: will he effectively stand up to US pressure on the EU's right to set its own environmental regulations despite the UK position being closer to that of the US?"
A new approach to world trade has never been more urgent. The international trading system is close to collapse, with two of the last three WTO Ministerials dissolving in failure thanks largely to the EU's intransigence in pushing a corporate agenda of bringing investment and competition within the WTO's scope - against the stated wishes of the developing nations.
MEPs, at least in theory, wield the ultimate sanction and could vote to sack the entire Barroso-appointed Commission after completing hearings with the new appointees at the end of next week.
29th September 2004