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.

(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

(1)  

OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55

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