On 21 June 2011 the EconWelfare team hosted a meeting in Brussels with
stakeholders involved in animal welfare policy making. Representatives from
NGO’s, national policy makers, the farming community and educational
establishments were informed about the findings of our project, and invited to
comment on its conclusions. The discussion focussed on progressive steps in the
use of welfare policy instruments (meeting legislation, creating public
awareness, promoting improvement via the market), the relative position of EU
Member states with respect to these steps and the possible distortion of
competition by upgrading animal welfare by the EU unilaterally. It also focussed
on the decision whether the market, or the authorities should provide positive
incentives to promote welfare. Several other project findings were discussed.
The final report of the EconWelfare project is due in September this year, and
will be published following approval by the Commission. |