16/17 October 2024 | Brussels
With the desire to further strengthening its voice at EU level, EPO welcomed in 2024 a new category of members: Associate Members. These entities from the pet sector already collaborate with EPO members and aim at supporting EPO with its activities at EU level.
EPO’s voice has never been more important than right now, with the raise of populism in Europe and of Eurosceptics promoting simple solution to complex matters. Unfortunately, the same simple solutions are not always friendly to the pet sector, neither the commercial side nor the hobby interests.
With the EU elections that took place this past June, a new European Parliament has been installed, with newly elected Members of the European Parliament representing highly diverse backgrounds and ideologies. This term (2024-29) could be challenging if we consider the increased representation of Eurosceptics constituting about one third of the elected MEPs.
In addition, a new European Commission should soon be nominated under the confirmed Presidency of Ursula von der Leyen. This new European Commission will set the EU priorities for the new term. We do see that in the new college’s proposal presented a few weeks ago by Ursula von der Leyen, a dedicated Commissioner on Animal Welfare is now being considered for this new term.
EPO confirms the importance of responsible pet keeping and a responsible pet trade, regulated through responsible and sensible legislation. (Photo: Kathrin Glaw)
In this context, EPO is prepared to do its utmost to ensure that the interests and needs of the pet sector continues to be listened to in Brussels. EPO will continue to constructively engage with the EU authorities at large, thereby ensuring that both scientific based evidence and a multi stakeholder approach are being used in the decision-making process.The recently launched EPO Manifesto for 2024-29 is a good illustration of how important the pet sector is for pet lovers and pet owners, and more generally the society at large. While promoting the EPO charter, EPO confirms the importance of responsible pet keeping and a responsible pet trade, regulated through responsible & sensible legislation.
EPO-President Svein A. Fosså: “EPO needs your support and active involvement to better represent the interests of yourself and your customers. Together we are strong.” (Photo: EPO)
EPO President Svein A. Fosså highlights the importance of EPO as a strong, reliable and constructive voice in Brussels: “Throughout EPO’s soon 35 years of working to represent and secure the interests of the pet sector on the European level, we have seen EU politics expanding to cover more and more areas of direct and indirect importance to our members and colleagues. This is why our member trade associations this year decided that time had come to engage more directly, and on a broader scale, with industry operators who, as Associate Members, now can give valuable direct input on their concerns. The expanded membership also gives us much needed economical resources to cover more ground in the European Commission, the Parliament and other arenas where decision makers are looking at pet keeping and trade. EPO needs your support and active involvement to better represent the interests of yourself and your customers. Together we are strong!”
On 1st October 2024 the European Pet Organization unveils its Manifesto for the EU term 2024-2029. The manifesto and press release can be downloaded HERE (pdf).