Webinar: Animal welfare in the EU-Australia trade negotiations and the EU’s role in commercial kangaroo hunting

9 Oct 2020
On 26 October from 10.00 to 12.00 CEST in the aftermath of World Kangaroo Day, Eurogroup for Animals will hold, with the support of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, the webinar 'Animal welfare in the EU-Australia trade negotiations and the EU’s role in commercial kangaroo hunting'

Last year, Eurogroup for Animals (EfA) published its report on “Animal Protection in EU-Australia Trade Negotiations” in which the organisation presented a proposals to ensure the EU-Australia future trade agreement does not further harm the animals, and even serves as a platform to make progress for them. 

This time and aiming at discussing what is at stake for animals in EU-Australia trade negotiations, including the EU’s role in commercial kangaroo hunting, EfA will gather experts and stakeholders in a two hours interactive debate. 

Chaired by MEP Manuela Ripa (Greens/EFA, DE), substitute on the International Trade Committee, the first part of the event will focus on the animal welfare concerns raised by the trade negotiations between both Parties and will include an introduction by EfA Trade and Animal Welfare Programme Leader, Stéphanie Ghislain. 

Animals Australia CEO, Glenys Oogjes; International Campaigner at FOUR PAWS International, Rebecca Picallo Gil and Stephen Thornton from BG Economics will be also contributing to this part of the debate. Furthermore, Joanna Grainger, Minister-Counsellor on Agriculture at the Australian Mission to the EU will also participate in the discussion, together with a representative from the European Commission

The second part of the webinar will focus on commercial kangaroo hunting in Australia and the serious animal welfare, conservation and public health concerns it raises. It will be chaired by MEP Anja Hazekamp (GUE/NGL,NL), Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and President of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.

This second session will see the launch of Eurogroup for Animals’ new report "Kangaroo: From an Australian Icon to meat and Luxury Leather for the EU" and will have the participation of biologist specialised in wildlife biology and marsupials, Dr Dror Ben-Ami. The debate will move forward with a presentation from Uncle Max, representative of Australia’s indigenous people, and the Australian member of the Parliament and member of the New South Wales Council, Hon. Mark Pearson. 

Finally, Ilaria Di Silvestre, Wildlife Programme Leader at EfA, will illustrate why it is the right time for the EU to introduce an import ban on all goods derived from the hunting of kangaroos. 

Don't miss the event! Registration is open here

Full agenda and speakers bios are available here.