Date: 2023-03-29Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/694 of 22 March 2023 on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’ (notified under document C(2023) 1839) (Only the English text is authentic)
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Decision EU 2023/694, dated 22 March 2023, approves the registration of the European citizens initiative "End The Horse Slaughter Age." The initiative aims to ban horse slaughter, associated practices, and long-distance transportation for slaughter, as notified to the Commission on 31 January 2023. The decision confirms that the initiative meets the requirements for registration under Regulation EU 2019/788.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Initiative Objectives:**
* Seeks a law to ban the slaughter of horses, including breeding and export for fur, leather, meat, or medicine production.
* Asks for a law to stop long-distance transportation of horses across Europe for slaughter.
* Requests a regulation to protect horses from being compelled to do excess work or hard training.
* **Commission Assessment:**
* The Commission considers that the initiative does not manifestly fall outside its power to propose a legal act.
* The Commission acknowledges its power to propose legislation regarding animal protection (Article 43(2) of the Treaty) and trade restrictions (Articles 114 and 207 of the Treaty).
* Registration does not imply confirmation of the initiative's factual correctness.
* **Compliance and Registration:**
* The group of organisers has met the requirements of Article 5(1) and 5(2) of Regulation EU 2019/788.
* The initiative is not abusive, frivolous, vexatious, or contrary to Union values.
* The initiative "End The Horse Slaughter Age" is registered.
Impact Analysis:
* **Group of Organisers (represented by Ms Paola Sgarbazzini and Ms Nora Paglionico):**
* *Impact:* The initiative they proposed has been officially registered by the European Commission.
* *Action Required:* None explicitly stated, but they can proceed with the next steps of the European citizens initiative process.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day operations.
Regulation EU 2019/788: A regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European citizens' initiative.
European Parliament: The directly elected parliamentary body of the European Union.
Council of the European Union: A body representing the governments of the EU member states.
End The Horse Slaughter Age: A European citizens initiative requesting a law to ban the slaughter of horses, including their breeding and export.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining its scope, function, and powers.
Brussels: The de facto capital of the European Union, located in Belgium.
29.3.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 91/15
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2023/694
of 22 March 2023
on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament
and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’
(notified under document C(2023) 1839)
(Only the English text is authentic)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the
European citizens’ initiative(1), and in particular Article 6(2) and (3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’ was submitted to
the Commission on 31 January 2023.
(2) The objectives of the initiative are expressed by the organisers as follows: ‘The European Citizens’ Initiative End The
Horse Slaughter Age asks for a law to ban the slaughter of horses, including in the ban also their breeding and their
export for the production of fur, leather, meat or for the manufacture of medicines or other substances. The
European Citizens’ Initiative End The Horse Slaughter Age asks also for a law to stop long-distance transportation of
horses across Europe for slaughter and a regulation to protect horse from being compelled to do excess work or hard
training.’
(3) An annex to the initiative provides further details on the subject matter, objectives and background. The organisers
claim that the slaughter of horses for human consumption is a cruel practice, driven by demand for horse meat,
which is unsafe for human consumption. With the ban on the slaughter of horses they would like to bring the
legislation on horses in line with legislation for dogs and cats.
(4) An additional document with some further details on the objectives of the proposed citizens’ initiative and a draft
legal act expressing the main aims of the initiative have also been submitted by the group of organisers as part of
their registration request.
(5) The Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly fall outside the framework of the
Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the
Treaties. Article 43(2) of the Treaty provides the Commission, inter alia, with the power to propose legislation that
lays down minimum standards for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Articles 114 and 207 of
the Treaty provide the Commission with the power to propose legislation that bans the placing on the market and
the export of horses for the production of fur, leather, meat or for the manufacture of medicines or other substances.
(6) That conclusion is without prejudice to the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for
the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and
compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.
(7) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)
and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first
subparagraph, of that Regulation.
(1) OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55.L 91/16 EN Official Journal of the European Union 29.3.2023
(8) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union
as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental
Rights of the European Union.
(9) The initiative entitled ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’ should therefore be registered.
(10) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does
not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is
the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the
views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’ shall be registered.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’,
represented by Ms Paola SGARBAZZINI and Ms Nora PAGLIONICO acting as contact persons.
Done at Brussels, 22 March 2023.
For the Commission
Věra JOUROVÁ
Vice-President