Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, welcomed today’s decision by the European Parliament to end EU subsidies for bullfighting.  This will “further strengthen the EU’s reputation as a world-leader on animal protection” she said.

Green Party MEP for the South East, Keith Taylor, added that the vote to end the “misplaced” EU subsidies could be “a massive blow to the industry”.

Their comments came after a majority of MEPs voted in support of an amendment to the EU budget which called for agricultural payments to be withdrawn from all land being used to rear bulls for bullfighting. According to a 2013 report called Torres and Taxes, no less than €129.6 million is spent by the European Union on subsidising bullfighting each year.

Jean Lambert said:

“I’m extremely pleased that the European Parliament voted for today’s Green amendment to stop EU subsidies benefiting bullfighting.

“The EU has some of the best animal protection laws are in the world, but this record has been marred by agriculture subsidies being misused in this way.

“This vote will further strengthen the EU’s reputation as a world-leader on animal protection and should, I hope, end EU money subsidising this cruel practice, which many people rightly want banned.”

Keith Taylor said:

“I am delighted that MEPs have voted today to stop EU money being used to prop up the bullfighting industry.

“Bullfighting is barbaric and cruel and, without the support of misplaced EU farming subsidies, it’s a failing business. While the vote today will not stop bullfighting, it could be a massive blow to the industry – stopping millions of pounds going to those involved.”

Green MEPs called for the subsidy to end in 2014. See here.

Notes

1. 438 MEPs voted in favour, and 199 against the following amendment:

26 c. Reiterates that CAP appropriations or any other appropriations from the budget should not be used for financing lethal bull fighting activities; recalls that such funding is a clear violation of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (Council Directive 98/58/EC);

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MEPs will vote today at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on an amendment put down by Keith Taylor MEP for South East England and Bas Eickhout MEP on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group to stop subsidies for bullfighting from the European Union.

At the moment, the EU subsidises the controversial sport of traditional bullfighting in Spain to the tune of £13.5 million a year via European farm subsidies.

Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London said:

“Bullfighting may still exist in the collective imagination romantically linked with Hemingway and Spanish tradition. This is exactly where bullfighting should be – in fiction and in the past. It’s a bloody anachronism that should be removed, the EU cannot fight for animal protection while justifying this subsidy.”

Keith Taylor Green MEP for South East England said:

“Bullfighting is a very cruel industry which would entirely collapse if the EU withdraws its funding and so it should”.

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for South West England said:

“Agricultural support in the EU should be to support small and family farms producing food for their local community. Most people would be shocked to know that public money goes to supporting this barbaric and outmoded activity.”

ENDS

The Green have an online petition against EU subsidies for bullfighting. If you haven’t done so already please consider signing it.  See update below.

October 2015 update: The above petition has been updated and can be signed at http://supportgreens.eu/CUSTOM-URL-stop-eu-subsidies-bullfighting.

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Ms Lambert’s criticisms follow the publication of a report which suggests that bullfighting would be unviable without the generous subsidies given to the industry by the European Union.

The report estimates that bullfighting receives over £100m worth of subsidies from the EU, predominantly through the Common Agricultural Policy.

They are not given specifically for the bullfighting industry – but are channeled into it by the Spanish Government which, along with the European Commission, could stop the flow of EU cash.

Ms Lambert has joined other MEPs in writing to the EU’s agriculture minister calling for an end to EU subsidies for bullfighting.

Commenting on the report Ms Lambert said:

“Whilst people across Europe are wondering where they’re going to get the next meal from the EU continues to pour our money into bullfighting: this has to stop.

“Bullfighting is barbaric and cruel and, without the prop of EU farming subsidies, it’s a failing business. The EU must immediately withdraw funding from bullfighting and redirect the money towards sustainable agriculture producing affordable food.”

Another member of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, Raul Romeva, said:

“It is unacceptable that EU funds continue to be used to prop up this brutal practice, which flies in the face of EU commitments on animal welfare. This report makes clear that bullfighting would not be financially viable without subsidies, with public interest and support seriously waning.

Given EU funds of at least €130 million per year – and probably much more – continue to be channeled to the bullfighting industry, it is clear that this is also a question for the EU and the Commission must stop trying to duck responsibility for the issue.”

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