CACH EU members meet in Brussels
The first ever meeting of CACH Eurogroup members took place in Brussels on 13th June,2015.
CACH Eurogroup
Brussels Meeting: Saturday, 13 June 2015
Start: 10.30
Venue: Auberge de Jeunesse Jacques Brel
Rue de la Sablonnière, 30
1000 Brussels
Attendees
David Nash Chair CACH Europe
Simone Eckhardt Stichting SPOTS
Christine Frateur Stichting SPOTS
Frans Gesell Stichting SPOTS
Daniel Turner Born Free
Alexander Anghelou
CJ Munoz CACH Spain
Luis Munoz CACH Spain
Stavy Anastasiou CACH UK
Julie Lasne CACH France
Faye Peeters CACH Germany
Review of the European strategy/priorities
Presentation by Daniel Turner, Born Free
“Working in the EU, understanding the decision-making process”
The EU consists of different entities:
1. EC = European Commission has several Directorate General:
· DG Environment
· DG Santé (Animal welfare)
· DG Research
· DG Trade
2. Council of Ministers (CM)
3. European Parliament (EP)
4. European Court of Justice (ECJ)
5. Economic and social committee (ESC)
In order to get a motion or proposal effectively accepted in the EU, you need to have to have a strategy for council, parliament and commission.
Important Facts when negotiating and drawing up a proposal
1. EC: European Commission
From which country is the commissioner? This is important to get the required backing. As soon this is established, you need to get the national government of his country behind this proposal, including national companies etc.
Structure:
· 28 members of all the member states
· Independent de-nationalised collegiate
· +/- 25.000 civil sergeants + 24 directorates general
The EC proposes, supervises the legislative process, negotiates and executes the final process.
What is the hook to get the commission interested: bio-diversity, tourism fraud, consumer protection, but NOT animal welfare (the decision on a seal product import ban is based on harmonisation of European law and not about animal welfare at all)
2. CM: Council of Ministers
Ultimately they have the decision.
Rotating presidency every 6 months, general secretariat +/- 2700 civil servants
Netherlands coming up in January 2016 – room for lobbying
3. EP: European Parliament
Not a difficult area to work in, parliament consists of elected people that have to serve their consitituency, general public, political groups, sometimes background in law but there are also charity workers and animal activists – here activity is most feasible .
However, very structured procedures.
751 MEP’s from 28 member states.
Political groups
20 committees: committees representing the environment, international trade, animals, education and culture.
They are the watch dog: if European citizens feel strongly about a subject, they will push this.
If you get the EP behind you, the commission will follow.
Decision making process: co-decision – equal making decision making power council/parliament
How does law making takes place?
Commission proposal goes to EP and Council (Environment or agriculture committee in our case). Within the committee you will have negotiation as to whom is going to be a rapporteur for the initiative. If this is someone from a certain party, they will have shadow-rapporteurs. NGO’s feed them with information. Report goes out from that committee and to the EP – they will either support or not the initiative. There may be amendments to make.
= 2 rapports (EP, Commission) – common position goes back to EP an then council – in case of disagreement – there will be a conciliation process – reviewing and amendments.
In this case, the commission makes amended or new proposal, this goes all the way back and the whole process is repeated.
The whole process can take 3 to 4 years.
From a member state perspective, politicians are not really willing to pass a law since this complicates things.
This is a list of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Animal Welfare and Conservation. http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/
EU/CITES
Who makes up the representation at CITES meeting?
Strategy needs to multi-levelled in order to keep up the pressure
NGO Strategy:
· Investigation, evidence, information gathering, education is key !
· Measure it – not give everything at once, continuously have debates and information gathering to keep up the pressure
· There is currently a wildlife action plan being developed. Should canned hunting be a component in this proposal?
· Join steering committee??
· Other coalition that could be contacted is called Trophy Free Europe/Ian Michler
Daniel Turner’s recommendation:
· Consider joining committee MEP for Wildlife
· Consider collaboration with TFE
· Facilitation can be made through Born Free
· Communication with other active groups: One Voice, 4 Paws etc.
· Draft a resolution
· Have good MEP’s behind that
· Written declaration
· Tool directly to be aimed at SA, see delegation for SA in EP
· Petition committee is obliged to discuss it
After lunch break
Reflection on Daniel’s presentation:
· Steering committee would be a worthwhile route to follow
· No strategic alliances with other organisations, but tactical cooperations
· What do we exactly want to push for? Ban on lion trophies, ban on canned hunting trophies, ban on all African wildlife trophies?
4 options:
· Do nothing about import ban: but still raising profile and awareness –Avaaz connection, put pressure on tourism industry
· Do something under the existing regulations – permits not being issued according regulations (no law-making decisions required)
· Seeking an amendment to existing regulations about trophy import – but still commission would need to implement new rules
· Full ban – very complex matter
After Daniel’s presentation, the group felt that the scope of lobbying to change European legislation is beyond our means. This would involve the full-time involvement of at least one member, although none of the current members has the required background an experience in this field.
Obstacles are:
· Complexity of EU law
· Time : full-time involvement required
· Difficulty of deciding on a ban on trophies coming from SA or Africa-wide
· Lobbying groups are currently already at work
Discussion:
Wrap-Up: observations
More information needs to be compiled on:
· Paper on impact of breeding industry on tourism in comparison with ethical tourism (Faye, David)
· Paper on conservation issues for EU (Julie Lasne will chair this)
· Lion Bones Market analysis (SA?)
· Marketing and media map (all CACH Europe)
CACH Eurogroup
Brussels Meeting: Saturday, 13 June 2015
Start: 10.30
Venue: Auberge de Jeunesse Jacques Brel
Rue de la Sablonnière, 30
1000 Brussels
Attendees
David Nash Chair CACH Europe
Simone Eckhardt Stichting SPOTS
Christine Frateur Stichting SPOTS
Frans Gesell Stichting SPOTS
Daniel Turner Born Free
Alexander Anghelou
CJ Munoz CACH Spain
Luis Munoz CACH Spain
Stavy Anastasiou CACH UK
Julie Lasne CACH France
Faye Peeters CACH Germany
Review of the European strategy/priorities
Presentation by Daniel Turner, Born Free
“Working in the EU, understanding the decision-making process”
The EU consists of different entities:
1. EC = European Commission has several Directorate General:
· DG Environment
· DG Santé (Animal welfare)
· DG Research
· DG Trade
2. Council of Ministers (CM)
3. European Parliament (EP)
4. European Court of Justice (ECJ)
5. Economic and social committee (ESC)
In order to get a motion or proposal effectively accepted in the EU, you need to have to have a strategy for council, parliament and commission.
Important Facts when negotiating and drawing up a proposal
1. EC: European Commission
From which country is the commissioner? This is important to get the required backing. As soon this is established, you need to get the national government of his country behind this proposal, including national companies etc.
Structure:
· 28 members of all the member states
· Independent de-nationalised collegiate
· +/- 25.000 civil sergeants + 24 directorates general
The EC proposes, supervises the legislative process, negotiates and executes the final process.
What is the hook to get the commission interested: bio-diversity, tourism fraud, consumer protection, but NOT animal welfare (the decision on a seal product import ban is based on harmonisation of European law and not about animal welfare at all)
2. CM: Council of Ministers
Ultimately they have the decision.
Rotating presidency every 6 months, general secretariat +/- 2700 civil servants
Netherlands coming up in January 2016 – room for lobbying
3. EP: European Parliament
Not a difficult area to work in, parliament consists of elected people that have to serve their consitituency, general public, political groups, sometimes background in law but there are also charity workers and animal activists – here activity is most feasible .
However, very structured procedures.
751 MEP’s from 28 member states.
Political groups
20 committees: committees representing the environment, international trade, animals, education and culture.
They are the watch dog: if European citizens feel strongly about a subject, they will push this.
If you get the EP behind you, the commission will follow.
Decision making process: co-decision – equal making decision making power council/parliament
How does law making takes place?
Commission proposal goes to EP and Council (Environment or agriculture committee in our case). Within the committee you will have negotiation as to whom is going to be a rapporteur for the initiative. If this is someone from a certain party, they will have shadow-rapporteurs. NGO’s feed them with information. Report goes out from that committee and to the EP – they will either support or not the initiative. There may be amendments to make.
= 2 rapports (EP, Commission) – common position goes back to EP an then council – in case of disagreement – there will be a conciliation process – reviewing and amendments.
In this case, the commission makes amended or new proposal, this goes all the way back and the whole process is repeated.
The whole process can take 3 to 4 years.
From a member state perspective, politicians are not really willing to pass a law since this complicates things.
This is a list of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Animal Welfare and Conservation. http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/
EU/CITES
Who makes up the representation at CITES meeting?
Strategy needs to multi-levelled in order to keep up the pressure
NGO Strategy:
· Investigation, evidence, information gathering, education is key !
· Measure it – not give everything at once, continuously have debates and information gathering to keep up the pressure
· There is currently a wildlife action plan being developed. Should canned hunting be a component in this proposal?
· Join steering committee??
· Other coalition that could be contacted is called Trophy Free Europe/Ian Michler
Daniel Turner’s recommendation:
· Consider joining committee MEP for Wildlife
· Consider collaboration with TFE
· Facilitation can be made through Born Free
· Communication with other active groups: One Voice, 4 Paws etc.
· Draft a resolution
· Have good MEP’s behind that
· Written declaration
· Tool directly to be aimed at SA, see delegation for SA in EP
· Petition committee is obliged to discuss it
After lunch break
Reflection on Daniel’s presentation:
· Steering committee would be a worthwhile route to follow
· No strategic alliances with other organisations, but tactical cooperations
· What do we exactly want to push for? Ban on lion trophies, ban on canned hunting trophies, ban on all African wildlife trophies?
4 options:
· Do nothing about import ban: but still raising profile and awareness –Avaaz connection, put pressure on tourism industry
· Do something under the existing regulations – permits not being issued according regulations (no law-making decisions required)
· Seeking an amendment to existing regulations about trophy import – but still commission would need to implement new rules
· Full ban – very complex matter
After Daniel’s presentation, the group felt that the scope of lobbying to change European legislation is beyond our means. This would involve the full-time involvement of at least one member, although none of the current members has the required background an experience in this field.
Obstacles are:
· Complexity of EU law
· Time : full-time involvement required
· Difficulty of deciding on a ban on trophies coming from SA or Africa-wide
· Lobbying groups are currently already at work
Discussion:
Wrap-Up: observations
More information needs to be compiled on:
· Paper on impact of breeding industry on tourism in comparison with ethical tourism (Faye, David)
· Paper on conservation issues for EU (Julie Lasne will chair this)
· Lion Bones Market analysis (SA?)
· Marketing and media map (all CACH Europe)