Europees Parlement
Algemeen secretariaat
T.a.v. Mevrouw Kathalijne Buitenweg
Spinelli, kamer 8G305
Wiertzstraat
B-1047 Brussel
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
For the attention of the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee
SUBJECT: The negotiations with Turkey with regard to joining the European Union,
upholding the law of animal welfare and protection of natural ecosystems.
Dear Sir, Madam
I am writing in order to bring the following issue to your attention.
Last January, eleven men caught a wild wolf, it was treated cruelly, tortured and finally killed by dogs. This hungry wolf had simply entered the village looking for food. Wolves are very shy creatures; and walking into a village deviates from their normal behaviour and is an exception to its customary lifestyle. This whole episode was caught on film by a TV. Cameraman and was later broadcast on Turkish television. The offenders were identified, but no actions were taken against them. It is not uncommon for some municipalities to encourage the people to shoot wolves on sight.
Two subjects to be raised:
Turkey is the habitat of the Indian wolf, a fast decreasing subspecies of the grey wolf. Protection of this subspecies is very important. For that reason it is urgent that a project is considered in which all aspects relating to the wolf are studied, analysed and executed. e.g. the reintroduction of, among others, the Anatolic sheepdog for the protection of livestock. This should be an international project.
The wolf tortured to death is an animal and Turkey has recently passed a bill on animal welfare. The incident illustrated above shows that the law is not being put into practice.
TURKEY JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union is publishing a directive, which is due by the end of June, for negotiation with Turkey with regard to the level of standards required for joining the European Union.
I believe and many others agree, that the implementation of the animal welfare law should be of a unified standard and comparable with other members of the union.
IF TURKEY IS JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION
In the introduction of the EU constitution, article 111-121, it is written that full consideration to the requirements concerning the welfare of animals, being creatures with feelings, that all due respect to be given to the stipulations of the law,taking into account the national customs of the members of the EU with regard to religious and cultural traditions and also regional heritage.
If the above law of animal welfare is to be applied then torturing a wolf to death should then be punishable’
The question is: Are animals living in natural condition, excluded from the animal welfare law?
The extermination of the wolf cannot simply be explained as a cultural tradition and/or regional heritage!!
The Turkish authorities consider the wolf as a pest its persecution is the main reason for the decreasing number of the Indian wolves.
Concerning the negotiations with Turkey about the potential for joining the European Union, I want more pressure to bring about the enforcement and upholding of the animal welfare law. Also an active management programme regarding the protection of the natural game breeding areas to be implemented.
From our hearts we do hope that you can take these issues with you to be included in the procedure for the European constitution and ofcourse the potential joining of Turkey in the EU.
Yours sincerely,
Bianca Hemminga
Stichting Wolvens Unlimited
