19 January 2007 - Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has demanded the EU funds the rescue of hundreds of Bulgarian and Romanian zoo animals facing slaughter because their conditions fail to meet European standards.

Animal welfare groups are reporting that hundreds of animals face slaughter as authorities are choosing to close some 60 zoos across the two nations – which joined the EU on January 1 st – rather than upgrade them to meet the conditions of the EU’s Zoo Directive.

Dr Lucas, who warned the European Commission of the problem almost a year ago, said: “It is completely unacceptable that EU laws designed to protect captive animals’ welfare are being cited as a reason for their slaughter.

“The EU must intervene – and provide funds to assist in the rescue or resettlement of all the animals from zoos in Bulgaria and Romania that fail to meet minimum welfare standards.

“Furthermore, the EU must seek agreements with the nations concerned that neither country will permit any further animal cruelty or the slaughter of any zoo animals.”

Dr Lucas first raised the issue with the European Commission in January 2006, in her capacity as Vice-President of the European Parliament’s cross-party group on animal welfare. She was assured that progress was being made on bringing the zoos concerned in line with EU standards, despite Bulgaria and Romania having failed to ask for a delay in fully implementing the Zoo Directive.

“Charitable organisations are now stepping in to try to stop the slaughter in part because of the Commission’s failure to take the issue seriously. The EU must now take some responsibility for this failure.”

The South-East England MEP, who is also a Vice-President of the RSPCA, has written again to the EU’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, demanding his immediate intervention.

ENDS