Last week, the @EU_Commission released the infringements package for the month of July. And, oh boy, has it been a busy past few weeks for the EU on the #AnimalProtection front!
A #thread on this important facet of EU ( #AnimalLaw and) policy.
A #thread on this important facet of EU ( #AnimalLaw and) policy.
First off, for those who are still new to #EULaw enforcement, infringement decisions are decisions by which the EU executive "pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law"
In everyday parlance, this means that the European Commission intervenes by notifying an EU country in cases where that country has failed to properly enact an EU law into national law, or failed to implement such a law.
This is an important facet of EU law and policy because without proper enforcement, laws have no effect. The July series of infringement procedures in particular shows that the Commission considers #AnimalWelfare seriously.
There are different levels of intervention; from a simple notification
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📬" title="Offener Briefkasten mit aufgestellter Fahne" aria-label="Emoji: Offener Briefkasten mit aufgestellter Fahne"> to a full-on legal action before the EU Court of Justice (ECJ)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧑⚖️" title="Judge" aria-label="Emoji: Judge">
We call "Infringement Procedure" the different levels this process follows
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We call "Infringement Procedure" the different levels this process follows
More on the infringement procedure and its legal basis in the TFEU
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_12_12">https://ec.europa.eu/commissio...
What’s it like in practice?
Last week, the Commission initiated 2 new infringement procedures and released updates on another 2 ongoing procedures related to:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐬" title="Delfin" aria-label="Emoji: Delfin">Marine mammal bycatch ( #Dolphins)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐇" title="Hase" aria-label="Emoji: Hase">Animals (ab)used in science ( #AnimalTesting)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐦" title="Vogel" aria-label="Emoji: Vogel">Bird protection ( #ChasseALaGlue)
Last week, the Commission initiated 2 new infringement procedures and released updates on another 2 ongoing procedures related to:
(By the way, it is the enactment of that government decree which sparked a debate, with some misinterpreting the new provision as being laxer than its previous version.) https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/06/30/experimentation-animale-le-nouveau-decret-est-il-une-avancee-ou-un-recul-pour-les-defenseurs-des-ani_1792629">https://www.liberation.fr/checknews...
That’s all for this month.
Key takeaway: the Commission has limited enforcement powers – which mostly lies with Member States – but definitely makes use of them when it comes to animal protection!
All infringement decisions for July available online : https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_20_1212">https://ec.europa.eu/commissio...
Key takeaway: the Commission has limited enforcement powers – which mostly lies with Member States – but definitely makes use of them when it comes to animal protection!
All infringement decisions for July available online : https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_20_1212">https://ec.europa.eu/commissio...