The European Institutions
and
the Power of Inaction
October 5, 2013 - But Where Is He/She? Where is the elusive face of accountability and response within the spider's web of European bureaucracy?
Voices of terror and anguish are being heard across the country of Romania. Death cries of over one million animals which the recently introduced law has condemned to death.
Let us also not play with semantics by using words like 'euthanasia' and 'humane'. Animals will and are being killed grotesquely on the streets and in extremes of inhumane activity in the shelters.
Voices of concern have been raised! Accompanying this cacophony are the voices of the children whose screams of terror will soon be silenced. Silenced by a natural process where they will desensitize to the horror. Their psychological defense mechanism will protect their emotions. Exposure to abuse and violence will become normal to them, they will not care.
Unfortunately desensitization comes at a cost. They will lose the ability to be empathic and compassionate towards animals and people. An uncaring, compassion-less society, determined primarily by government practice. A practice which has polarized a society... some aggressing against animals and some seeking to protect.
Lest the gravity not be understood, six deaths have already occurred because of this polarization... after only one week since its introduction. One can only imagine her death count as the weeks, months and years pass.
Many are the entreaties, the petitions, the appeals in the past but now a different dimension of outrage is being expressed by the people of Europe. The Romanian Government's introduction of a Law which impacts on the animals, the children and grossly negatively on their society has created outrage at an unprecedented level.
But who among our elected representatives responds?
Who in the public funded institutions steps forward with accountability?
Where is this face?
We hear the inadequate posturing of those institutions who declare unacceptability of behaviors. Well may we declare that such 'unacceptable' behavior is taking place right now in Romania.
European institutions, where are your teeth?
Where is this face?
Abdication to Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon has long been invoked because no competence is given to the issue of stray animals. The nebulous 'terms' 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' are invoked as inhibiting factors to EU activity and involvement.
Let it be acknowledged that if we take a commonality of all Member States as a benchmark, then the current events would challenge the sensibilities if they were described as any other than disproportionate. But let us no longer make forlorn requests of the abjectly unresponsive institutions of the EU and CoE.
Let us take the constant abdication factor of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty defines all animals, including the planned eradication group, as 'sentient beings'. The Treaty also prescribes for EU involvement in the domain of 'Human Health'. There IS evidence that exposure to animal abuse LINKS to human health issues in addition to aggression acquisition and enhancement. A society created where compassion and empathy are diminished but aggression is increased.
One wonders if the elusive face which does not address the issues demanded, is the same face hidden away in a dark room at the end of a long corridor within the labyrinth of the EU and determines that although they will do nothing to address the issues creating such a health affecting, distorted and dangerous society, they will however sanction the free-movement of citizens of this society into other EU Member countries where such emotional disabilities, behavior and enhanced aggression are anathema.
This IS intra-national!
Will the nameless face step forward and address these concerns of the European people and which affect ALL of Europe?
Hello? ...anyone home?
From: occupyforanimals@live.com
To: ......................@europarl.europa.eu
Subject: RE: Petition No. 1251/2012 (reference to be quoted in all correspondence)
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 22:07:13 +0200
Dear Mrs ............
If I may, I would like to ask a couple of questions to clarify my thinking.
There is some confusion as to the exact definition of the terms 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' as contained within Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon. Am I correct in assuming that in, for example, the case of Romania initiating an 'eradication' program with attendant consequences for Romanian society, such a proportionally extreme policy would satisfy the four criteria of :
- there must be a legitimate aim for a measure
- the measure must be suitable to achieve the aim (potentially with a requirement of evidence to show it will have that effect)
- the measure must be necessary to achieve the aim, that there cannot be any less onerous way of doing it
- the measure must be reasonable, considering the competing interests of different groups at hand
As a corollary to this, I sent some additional information to be included in the petition. This included data from the 'Making the Link' study evidencing the connection between animal abuse and children's negative psycho-social health and attendant aberrant social behavior patterns.
Were these considered along with the item on animal abuse only?
Many thanks in anticipation,
Pia Berrend / Founder at Occupy for Animals Malcolm Plant / Making the Link Ltd
occupyforanimals.wix.com/straysofeurop makingthelink.wix.com/a-time-for-change#!the-issue/c1295
www.occupyforanimals.org/
From: occupy for animals (occupyforanimals@live.com)
Sent:Sat 10/05/13 2:04 PM
To: .................@europarl.europa.eu (.................@europarl.europa.eu)
Dear Mrs ........
Could we perhaps ask when we might receive a response to this very central and highly pertinent question?
Many Thanks and Best Wishes,
Pia Berrend / Founder at Occupy for Animals Malcolm Plant / Making the Link Ltd
occupyforanimals.wix.com/straysofeurop makingthelink.wix.com/a-time-for-change#!the-issue/c1295
www.occupyforanimals.org/
Sent:Sat 10/05/13 2:04 PM
To: .................@europarl.europa.eu (.................@europarl.europa.eu)
Dear Mrs ........
Could we perhaps ask when we might receive a response to this very central and highly pertinent question?
Many Thanks and Best Wishes,
Pia Berrend / Founder at Occupy for Animals Malcolm Plant / Making the Link Ltd
occupyforanimals.wix.com/straysofeurop makingthelink.wix.com/a-time-for-change#!the-issue/c1295
www.occupyforanimals.org/
The Dog Mafia
and the EU Sleeping Beauty
Via Romanian Emergency Dog Rescue: Under the watchful eye of the European Unions Animal Welfare Intergroup, the heinous crimes described in this documentary occurred. This short but brilliant documentary describes the disgraceful cruelty dogs have been subjected to for many many years.
Are the EU powerless to stop it?
Of course, not, they merely turn a blind eye and hope the evidence will be buried under some memory bank, never to be seen again.
The Animal Welfare Intergroup is essentially a Sleeping Beauty. It never wakes up in an emergency. While Romania is suffering a blood bath of canines, the Eurogroup is happily tweeting their fairy tales. Dogs die yet this group is happy to bask in the glow of tax payers money.
Are the EU powerless to stop it?
Of course, not, they merely turn a blind eye and hope the evidence will be buried under some memory bank, never to be seen again.
The Animal Welfare Intergroup is essentially a Sleeping Beauty. It never wakes up in an emergency. While Romania is suffering a blood bath of canines, the Eurogroup is happily tweeting their fairy tales. Dogs die yet this group is happy to bask in the glow of tax payers money.
Was your quote not (about the Vier Pfoten volunteer who traveled from Romania to Brussels to be allowed to talk to you and your colleagues for two minutes only) that she was only concerned about what happens on the streets?
Well yes... there are horrible things happening right now on the streets of Romania, Madam!
A volunteer, readily dismissible to yourself was trying to tell YOU what was happening in YOUR country!
What are your concerns, Mrs Vice President? One pane of glass lies between the concerns of the people, the children, the homeless animals and the Vice President of the European organisation which declares itself protectors of animals. One pane of glass! One window between you inside and the reality outside!
Please spot the not so deliberate mistake! Not the people... not the tax paying citizens ... but the ineptitude, indifference and incompetence of our tax receiving brethren in positions of exalted power.
Sleep well, Madame! Your country is in paroxysms of terror! Sleep well!
Tomorrow you can posture again! Tomorrow you can ignore again!
But be it known, never have the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals attracted such negative attention and YOU are its biggest embarrassment.
Continuation to support you will bring massive disrepute upon each institution. The issues in Romania are of such magnitude that be assured this will become a central electoral issue in next year's MEP-elections.
Ladies and Gentlemen... are you prepared?
Well yes... there are horrible things happening right now on the streets of Romania, Madam!
A volunteer, readily dismissible to yourself was trying to tell YOU what was happening in YOUR country!
What are your concerns, Mrs Vice President? One pane of glass lies between the concerns of the people, the children, the homeless animals and the Vice President of the European organisation which declares itself protectors of animals. One pane of glass! One window between you inside and the reality outside!
Please spot the not so deliberate mistake! Not the people... not the tax paying citizens ... but the ineptitude, indifference and incompetence of our tax receiving brethren in positions of exalted power.
Sleep well, Madame! Your country is in paroxysms of terror! Sleep well!
Tomorrow you can posture again! Tomorrow you can ignore again!
But be it known, never have the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals attracted such negative attention and YOU are its biggest embarrassment.
Continuation to support you will bring massive disrepute upon each institution. The issues in Romania are of such magnitude that be assured this will become a central electoral issue in next year's MEP-elections.
Ladies and Gentlemen... are you prepared?
The Petition
"EU, where is the elusive face of accountability and response within the spider's web of European bureaucracy?"
TO:
The President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Commission
The President of the European Council
The President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
But Where Is He/She? Where is the elusive face of accountability and response within the spider's web of European bureaucracy?
Voices of terror and anguish are being heard across the country of Romania. Death cries of over one million animals which the recently introduced law has condemned to death.
Let us also not play with semantics by using words like 'euthanasia' and 'humane'. Animals will and are being killed grotesquely on the streets and in extremes of inhumane activity in the shelters.
Voices of concern have been raised! Accompanying this cacophony are the voices of the children whose screams of terror will soon be silenced. Silenced by a natural process where they will desensitize to the horror. Their psychological defense mechanism will protect their emotions. Exposure to abuse and violence will become normal to them, they will not care.
Unfortunately desensitization comes at a cost. They will lose the ability to be empathic and compassionate towards animals and people. An uncaring, compassion-less society, determined primarily by government practice. A practice which has polarized a society... some aggressing against animals and some seeking to protect.
Lest the gravity not be understood, six deaths have already occurred because of this polarization... after only one week since its introduction. One can only imagine her death count as the weeks, months and years pass.
Many are the entreaties, the petitions, the appeals in the past but now a different dimension of outrage is being expressed by the people of Europe. The Romanian Government's introduction of a Law which impacts on the animals, the children and grossly negatively on their society has created outrage at an unprecedented level.
But who among our elected representatives responds?
Who in the public funded institutions steps forward with accountability?
Where is this face?
We hear the inadequate posturing of those institutions who declare unacceptability of behaviors. Well may we declare that such 'unacceptable' behavior is taking place right now in Romania.
European institutions, where are your teeth?
Where is this face?
Abdication to Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon has long been invoked because no competence is given to the issue of stray animals. The nebulous 'terms' 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' are invoked as inhibiting factors to EU activity and involvement.
There is also some confusion as to the exact definition of the terms 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' as contained within Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon. We had asked the EU if they could please help us to clarify our thinking. But they couldn't. They seem to be clueless themselves about the correct definition of the nebulous 'terms' 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' and our questions still remain unanswered.
What we had asked was, if we were correct in assuming that in, for example, the case of Romania initiating an 'eradication' program with attendant consequences for Romanian society, such a proportionally extreme policy would satisfy the four criteria of:
If among the many tens of thousands of EU-employees, proportionally a minority, and be it only ONE person, could answer the above question and send it to us at <occupyforanimals@live.com, makingthelink@europe.com> we would be infinitely grateful. A suggestion might be to ask the one who "designed" Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty. He or she might know the answer...
Let it also be acknowledged that if we take a commonality of all Member States as a benchmark, then the current events would challenge the sensibilities if they were described as any other than disproportionate. But let us no longer make forlorn requests of the abjectly unresponsive institutions of the EU and CoE.
Let us take the constant abdication factor of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty defines all animals, including the planned eradication group, as 'sentient beings'. The Treaty also prescribes for EU involvement in the domain of 'Human Health'. There IS evidence that exposure to animal abuse LINKS to human health issues in addition to aggression acquisition and enhancement. A society created where compassion and empathy are diminished but aggression is increased.
One wonders if the elusive face which does not address the issues demanded, is the same face hidden away in a dark room at the end of a long corridor within the labyrinth of the EU and determines that although they will do nothing to address the issues creating such a health affecting, distorted and dangerous society, they will however sanction the free-movement of citizens of this society into other EU Member countries where such emotional disabilities, behavior and enhanced aggression are anathema.
This IS trans-national!
Will the nameless face step forward and address these concerns of the European people and which affect ALL of Europe?
The President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Commission
The President of the European Council
The President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
But Where Is He/She? Where is the elusive face of accountability and response within the spider's web of European bureaucracy?
Voices of terror and anguish are being heard across the country of Romania. Death cries of over one million animals which the recently introduced law has condemned to death.
Let us also not play with semantics by using words like 'euthanasia' and 'humane'. Animals will and are being killed grotesquely on the streets and in extremes of inhumane activity in the shelters.
Voices of concern have been raised! Accompanying this cacophony are the voices of the children whose screams of terror will soon be silenced. Silenced by a natural process where they will desensitize to the horror. Their psychological defense mechanism will protect their emotions. Exposure to abuse and violence will become normal to them, they will not care.
Unfortunately desensitization comes at a cost. They will lose the ability to be empathic and compassionate towards animals and people. An uncaring, compassion-less society, determined primarily by government practice. A practice which has polarized a society... some aggressing against animals and some seeking to protect.
Lest the gravity not be understood, six deaths have already occurred because of this polarization... after only one week since its introduction. One can only imagine her death count as the weeks, months and years pass.
Many are the entreaties, the petitions, the appeals in the past but now a different dimension of outrage is being expressed by the people of Europe. The Romanian Government's introduction of a Law which impacts on the animals, the children and grossly negatively on their society has created outrage at an unprecedented level.
But who among our elected representatives responds?
Who in the public funded institutions steps forward with accountability?
Where is this face?
We hear the inadequate posturing of those institutions who declare unacceptability of behaviors. Well may we declare that such 'unacceptable' behavior is taking place right now in Romania.
European institutions, where are your teeth?
Where is this face?
Abdication to Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon has long been invoked because no competence is given to the issue of stray animals. The nebulous 'terms' 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' are invoked as inhibiting factors to EU activity and involvement.
There is also some confusion as to the exact definition of the terms 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' as contained within Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon. We had asked the EU if they could please help us to clarify our thinking. But they couldn't. They seem to be clueless themselves about the correct definition of the nebulous 'terms' 'subsidiarity' and 'proportionality' and our questions still remain unanswered.
What we had asked was, if we were correct in assuming that in, for example, the case of Romania initiating an 'eradication' program with attendant consequences for Romanian society, such a proportionally extreme policy would satisfy the four criteria of:
- there must be a legitimate aim for a measure
- the measure must be suitable to achieve the aim (potentially with a requirement of evidence to show it will have that effect)
- the measure must be necessary to achieve the aim, that there cannot be any less onerous way of doing it
- the measure must be reasonable, considering the competing interests of different groups at hand
If among the many tens of thousands of EU-employees, proportionally a minority, and be it only ONE person, could answer the above question and send it to us at <occupyforanimals@live.com, makingthelink@europe.com> we would be infinitely grateful. A suggestion might be to ask the one who "designed" Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty. He or she might know the answer...
Let it also be acknowledged that if we take a commonality of all Member States as a benchmark, then the current events would challenge the sensibilities if they were described as any other than disproportionate. But let us no longer make forlorn requests of the abjectly unresponsive institutions of the EU and CoE.
Let us take the constant abdication factor of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty defines all animals, including the planned eradication group, as 'sentient beings'. The Treaty also prescribes for EU involvement in the domain of 'Human Health'. There IS evidence that exposure to animal abuse LINKS to human health issues in addition to aggression acquisition and enhancement. A society created where compassion and empathy are diminished but aggression is increased.
One wonders if the elusive face which does not address the issues demanded, is the same face hidden away in a dark room at the end of a long corridor within the labyrinth of the EU and determines that although they will do nothing to address the issues creating such a health affecting, distorted and dangerous society, they will however sanction the free-movement of citizens of this society into other EU Member countries where such emotional disabilities, behavior and enhanced aggression are anathema.
This IS trans-national!
Will the nameless face step forward and address these concerns of the European people and which affect ALL of Europe?
50,000 (?!) EU-employees measuring cucumbers and bananas whilst a society (in Romania) desensitizes and acquires enhanced aggression levels, before being EU assigned 'export' status?
Meanwhile the streets are littered with the corpses of many dogs. People also. Whilst a society desensitizes, zombifies... and in the Hallowed Halls of Power in some distant land, priority is given to the measuring of a cucumber or a banana, somewhere between their coffee breaks!
Meanwhile the streets are littered with the corpses of many dogs. People also. Whilst a society desensitizes, zombifies... and in the Hallowed Halls of Power in some distant land, priority is given to the measuring of a cucumber or a banana, somewhere between their coffee breaks!
The petition to the EU
"The European Union MUST - according to its own constitution - intervene in Romania!"
The President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Commission
The President of the European Council
The President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
To all those of the European Union who experienced problems identifying the necessary and proportionate involvement in Member Country affairs: an event has now occurred which in its radicality, completely defines and clarifies these concerns.
For details regarding said event, please visit:
http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---on-the-greatest-animal-genocide-in-european-history-government-initiated-anarchy-violations-of-human-rights-and-children-rights.html
The Treaty of Lisbon identifies two conditions: that of 'proportionality' and 'subsidiarity'. Questions posed about these terms are currently awaiting a clarification response.
http://www.occupyforanimals.org/the-european-institutions-and-the-power-of-inaction.html
We offer to the European Commission the suggestion that the recent Romanian Law to slaughter all stray animals not only is inconsistent with EU animal welfare law but also is health affecting and introduces societal disturbance. Provision of a Duty of Care to protect mental health is also embraced within the Romanian Constitution. Therefore the current activity which has deleterious effects on mental health can be deemed 'unconstitution-intranationally'.
'Subsidiarity' carries the following guidelines:
- Does the action have transnational aspects that cannot be resolved by Member States? ·
- Would national action or an absence of action be contrary to the requirements of the Treaty?
- Does action at European level have clear advantages?
It is suggested that the recent policies introduced in Romania causing enormous suffering to animals on a hitherto un-imagined scale, concomitant with the evidenced impact on children's health through exposure to such public aggression. Serious community diminishment of empathy and compassion. Emotions allied with enhanced aggression with EU sanctioned access to other EU countries where such standards are anathema. An introduced abuse of animals, that the Romanian Parliament defined as 'eradication' and the polarization of a society, some aggressing, some protecting, with six deaths already. Children's psychological heath is being affected on a national population scale!
This definitively DEMANDS the EU to introduce policies which are both humane and effective.These exist! They are embraced within EU Law. EU LAW is being mocked on a previous hitherto unseen scale.
ALL conditions of engagement under the 'subsidiarity' principle are hereby met! A mandate is set! The European Union MUST - according to its own constitution - intervene in Romania!
The Intergroup is making the news!
"Animal Welfare Intergroup - Europe's Sleeping Beauty?"
October 21, 2013 by Dr Rita Pal, originally posted in 'The Huffington Post'
Accountability is a vital deterrent to breaches of rights and criminal acts. Without it, a country becomes lawless, as can be seen in Romania's Stray Dog issue. Despite sporting cachectic dogs residing in inhumane conditions, Romania recently released its plans forspending EUR 43 billion of European funds in 2014-2020. The European Union, however, remains tight-lipped on the dark reality of Romania, perhaps hoping the problems will disappear.
Lack of accountability in issues of neglect, cruelty and torture of dogs is so out of control that the spotlight has fallen on the Animal Welfare Intergroup. Who are they? Their websitestates as follows
"The all-party Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals was created in 1983 in the European Parliament to discuss European and international animal welfare and conservation issues and, where appropriate, take initiatives which can lead to legislation"
Observant readers will find the name Daciana Sârbu (S&D, Romania) in their list.
In the absence of declared potential conflicts, nobody would guess that this lady is the wife of the Romanian Prime Minister, Victor Ponta. He was involved in instigating the legislation that enables unadopted stray dogs to be killed after 14 days - on 10th September the Lower House of the Romanian Parliament voted GEO 155/2001 to legitimise a 'catch and kill' policy for all homeless animals.
Quoting Ponta's wife, the media wrote:
"She said the government should take advantage of every opportunity for us to promote and invite those who might cause these messages on in other countries, to see what is truly Romania. Let's talk openly, honestly and with pride about our country than we go and obviously the European Parliament (EP) to no longer let those who denigrate us to do actions and talk without sanction as we do now,'' said MEP PSD" [Source]
Campaign group, Occupy For Animals, has analysed this here, along with her speech to the Intergroup meeting, 12th of September, 2013. Both are worth considering.
The Intergroup has not responded to any questions, citing the absence of legislation as justification for their inaction.
So what has this group done, given the tsunami of concerns (neglectful public shelters, inhumane methods used to end dog's lives, unacceptable levels of cruelty and numerous other issues) from dog rescuers and animal rights campaigners? The Intergroup has written three letters to the President of Romania.
Letter dated 6.8.2013
Letter dated 11.9.2013
Letter dated 8.10.2013
These polite, respectful letters don't read like an effort to achieve accountability in the face of catastrophe. The wording is so ambiguous that one Romanian paper wrote "EU agrees to euthanize stray dogs in Romania". The Eurogroup Press Office made no attempt to correct this.
The razzmatazz on World Animal Day demonstrated a showpiece from the Intergroup , against a backdrop of dogs unlawfully killed in Romanian public shelters and Four Paws dealing with the a helpless animal that had his top jaw mercilessly hacked off. The Eurogroup said as follows:
"Today, on World Animal Day, we believe that this law can cover all animal species, develop knowledge, education and encourage citizens to take their responsibilities seriously making a huge difference for animals of all shapes and sizes,"Instead of acknowledging legitimate evidence sent to them that day, the Eurogroup wrote
"We are aware that a lot of unsubstantiated 'evidence' of perpetrated cruelties has been circulating during the last weeks and that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between reliable information and invented horrors".In 2010, evidence was presented to them. By November 2011, a petition was presented in Brussels. The campaign group said
"We handed it over to Ms Mazzoni the chairwomen of the Petition Committee. Guests were also the MEPs Eva Lichtenberger and Jörg Leichtfried from Austria; they are both Members of the Intergroup of animals Welfare" .
With Powerpoint presentations on animal cruelty and corruption, the Intergroup has been acutely aware of the problem for a number of years. Indeed, the film Dog Mafia clearly states that evidence has been presented at the European level. The Intergroup obviously had access to ample legitimate evidence, and could easily have mounted an investigation to sift out unsubstantiated claims. There has been none. Instead, the Intergroup shied away from its responsibility to maintain accountability, thereby sanctioning Romania's license to kill stray dogs.
Occupy for Animal noted:
"Romania's Prime Minister Ponta - and timely right for World Animals Day - seem to slightly change positions from being 'neutral' to being 'a bit more humane' and made an 'impressive' statement". The writer continues "Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania, husband of Daciana Sarbu, one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conversation of Animals, throughout the scandal caused by the 'slaughter law', had kept a very neutral position and refrained from openly telling if he was in favor of the euthanasia of stray dogs, or against. After the 'slaughter law' became "legislation", the PSD leader made it clear that he "does not want to live in a country where homeless dogs are being slaughtered". This statement came a bit too late, in our opinion..."
They noted the fascinating quote by Victor Ponta:
"There are two phases before the euthanasia: the adoption phase and the sterilization and keeping the dogs in the shelters. I would like, if we consider ourselves a civilized country, to use more the first two. This is my message and my signal. I will not be proud to live in a country where animals are slaughtered"
If this was indeed his view before Parliament passed the culling law, then why didn't he do his best to stop it? Ponta's belated tears are not persuasive.
While Ponta's wife is part of the Animal Welfare Intergroup, can we expect any action from them other than well-crafted, politically sweet letters? Probably not.
Accountability is a vital deterrent to breaches of rights and criminal acts. Without it, a country becomes lawless, as can be seen in Romania's Stray Dog issue. Despite sporting cachectic dogs residing in inhumane conditions, Romania recently released its plans forspending EUR 43 billion of European funds in 2014-2020. The European Union, however, remains tight-lipped on the dark reality of Romania, perhaps hoping the problems will disappear.
Lack of accountability in issues of neglect, cruelty and torture of dogs is so out of control that the spotlight has fallen on the Animal Welfare Intergroup. Who are they? Their websitestates as follows
"The all-party Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals was created in 1983 in the European Parliament to discuss European and international animal welfare and conservation issues and, where appropriate, take initiatives which can lead to legislation"
Observant readers will find the name Daciana Sârbu (S&D, Romania) in their list.
In the absence of declared potential conflicts, nobody would guess that this lady is the wife of the Romanian Prime Minister, Victor Ponta. He was involved in instigating the legislation that enables unadopted stray dogs to be killed after 14 days - on 10th September the Lower House of the Romanian Parliament voted GEO 155/2001 to legitimise a 'catch and kill' policy for all homeless animals.
Quoting Ponta's wife, the media wrote:
"She said the government should take advantage of every opportunity for us to promote and invite those who might cause these messages on in other countries, to see what is truly Romania. Let's talk openly, honestly and with pride about our country than we go and obviously the European Parliament (EP) to no longer let those who denigrate us to do actions and talk without sanction as we do now,'' said MEP PSD" [Source]
Campaign group, Occupy For Animals, has analysed this here, along with her speech to the Intergroup meeting, 12th of September, 2013. Both are worth considering.
The Intergroup has not responded to any questions, citing the absence of legislation as justification for their inaction.
So what has this group done, given the tsunami of concerns (neglectful public shelters, inhumane methods used to end dog's lives, unacceptable levels of cruelty and numerous other issues) from dog rescuers and animal rights campaigners? The Intergroup has written three letters to the President of Romania.
Letter dated 6.8.2013
Letter dated 11.9.2013
Letter dated 8.10.2013
These polite, respectful letters don't read like an effort to achieve accountability in the face of catastrophe. The wording is so ambiguous that one Romanian paper wrote "EU agrees to euthanize stray dogs in Romania". The Eurogroup Press Office made no attempt to correct this.
The razzmatazz on World Animal Day demonstrated a showpiece from the Intergroup , against a backdrop of dogs unlawfully killed in Romanian public shelters and Four Paws dealing with the a helpless animal that had his top jaw mercilessly hacked off. The Eurogroup said as follows:
"Today, on World Animal Day, we believe that this law can cover all animal species, develop knowledge, education and encourage citizens to take their responsibilities seriously making a huge difference for animals of all shapes and sizes,"Instead of acknowledging legitimate evidence sent to them that day, the Eurogroup wrote
"We are aware that a lot of unsubstantiated 'evidence' of perpetrated cruelties has been circulating during the last weeks and that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between reliable information and invented horrors".In 2010, evidence was presented to them. By November 2011, a petition was presented in Brussels. The campaign group said
"We handed it over to Ms Mazzoni the chairwomen of the Petition Committee. Guests were also the MEPs Eva Lichtenberger and Jörg Leichtfried from Austria; they are both Members of the Intergroup of animals Welfare" .
With Powerpoint presentations on animal cruelty and corruption, the Intergroup has been acutely aware of the problem for a number of years. Indeed, the film Dog Mafia clearly states that evidence has been presented at the European level. The Intergroup obviously had access to ample legitimate evidence, and could easily have mounted an investigation to sift out unsubstantiated claims. There has been none. Instead, the Intergroup shied away from its responsibility to maintain accountability, thereby sanctioning Romania's license to kill stray dogs.
Occupy for Animal noted:
"Romania's Prime Minister Ponta - and timely right for World Animals Day - seem to slightly change positions from being 'neutral' to being 'a bit more humane' and made an 'impressive' statement". The writer continues "Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania, husband of Daciana Sarbu, one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conversation of Animals, throughout the scandal caused by the 'slaughter law', had kept a very neutral position and refrained from openly telling if he was in favor of the euthanasia of stray dogs, or against. After the 'slaughter law' became "legislation", the PSD leader made it clear that he "does not want to live in a country where homeless dogs are being slaughtered". This statement came a bit too late, in our opinion..."
They noted the fascinating quote by Victor Ponta:
"There are two phases before the euthanasia: the adoption phase and the sterilization and keeping the dogs in the shelters. I would like, if we consider ourselves a civilized country, to use more the first two. This is my message and my signal. I will not be proud to live in a country where animals are slaughtered"
If this was indeed his view before Parliament passed the culling law, then why didn't he do his best to stop it? Ponta's belated tears are not persuasive.
While Ponta's wife is part of the Animal Welfare Intergroup, can we expect any action from them other than well-crafted, politically sweet letters? Probably not.
