Thank you for this generous and important reception! My gratitude goes to the Seychelles and Tanzania for hosting this evening with us, and not least to WSPA for their work and for bringing us together. Six of your member organizations operate very actively in my home country, hence the Swedish government knows to take you seriously!
At stake here is promoting sustainable development as well as protecting animal. It is a win-win solution for human beings and animals, both of whom are sentient beings. In fact, it is considered so important by the EU that it is part of our legislation and will be integral to our new constitution, the Lisbon Treaty.
In March this year, our highest decision making body, the European Council, signed up to the concept of a UN Declaration on Animal Welfare. Our HSOG considers the issue animal welfare to be of common concern and global importance.
We recognize that animal welfare will differ from one country to another. The emerging consensus of what animal welfare means is the concept of the “Five freedoms”: 1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour. 2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area. 3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment. 4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind. 5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Changing harmful handling of animals can often give a very direct pay-off in terms of economics – improved handling of animals during transport and at the time of slaughter give less bruising and therefore less deduction of meat.
More fundamentally, contribute to MDG 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Enhance gender equality, with women responsible for most of the small scale handling of livestock.
In animal holdings with good welfare, animals tend to be healthier. This can lead to savings in terms of reduced expenditure on veterinary medicines and lower mortality rates. Also, healthier animals can produce economic benefits in terms of better feed conversion ratios and higher growth rates.
The EU wants to explore trade opportunities with developing countries based on welfare friendly production systems. The EU Presidency is a staunch supporter of free and open trade. We believe that open markets and a globally increased protection of animals can go hand in hand. In our view animal welfare must be an integral part of a sustainable animal production and this applies to all countries. I would call it protection without protectionism. With different prerequisites, different actions will be needed. Technical and financial assistance will be required.
As we meet here tonight, the EU Presidency is hosting an international conference on Animal Welfare and Quality in Uppsala, Sweden, with over 250 participants representing 30 countries from different regions of the world. It is our intention to continue to pursue these ideals in Europe and with partners abroad.
We should continue to work on animal welfare standards in multilateral forums, such as the OIE (World organization for animal health). And we look forward to working with WSPA and other colleagues to protect animals and promote sustainable development.