2015–2020: The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Unveils Its Five-Year Strategy

The European veterinary profession, comprising 243,000 colleagues, is divided as follows: 48% work in pet care, 18% in animal production, 16% in public health, and 18% in other sectors (research, industry, education, etc.). The FVE, which represents the veterinary profession, has just published its objectives for the next five years. The five new challenges aim to advance the veterinary profession, promote the vital role of veterinarians, defend their interests, expand their network, and strengthen the voice of their federation. Faced with this ambitious agenda, the hardest part lies ahead: the challenge now is to make it a reality. The portrait of the profession in Europe, as outlined in the extensive survey* conducted by the FVE among 13,000 veterinarians in 24 European countries, revealed that the majority (60%) have chosen to practice in the private sector, while fewer than 20% work in the public sector. Seventy-five percent of their income comes from the 157 million pets registered in the European Union. To achieve the goals for the next five years, 83% of the veterinarians surveyed believe they will need to specialize further, 80% believe they need more advanced training in business management, and 49% believe that legislation should be strengthened.  

Goal #1: Strengthen the profession

To strengthen veterinarians’ standing and the quality of the services they provide, three approaches have been identified:

• communicating the professionalism of veterinarians so that the public understands that they are part of a regulated profession where everyone is accountable for their professional conduct;
• encourage the responsible use of antibiotics by highlighting the role of veterinarians in monitoring the use of these medications;
• promote high-quality, science-based veterinary training at all stages of a veterinarian’s career.

 

Objective No. 2: Promote the profession’s standing

Although often underestimated, the role of veterinarians is crucial to society, the economy, and the environment. Several ways to secure and support this role are being considered:

• increasing public understanding of the various roles veterinarians play in animal health, public health, and animal welfare;
• promoting the “One Health” concept by demonstrating how, by caring for animal health, veterinarians also care for human health;
• giving greater consideration to the health and animal welfare of domestic and pets, since while 60% of veterinarians treat dogs and cats, most EU regulations—and many of the issues addressed by the FVE—concern Livestock;
• defend the legitimacy of veterinarians, for example in the field of food safety, which, in some countries, is increasingly being entrusted to less specialized technicians;
• explore new opportunities in sectors such as aquaculture, animal welfare, and new sources of animal proteins;
• promote the many career paths within the profession to raise students’ awareness of the diversity of roles and employment opportunities;
• encourage veterinary leadership by taking the lead in discussions on societal issues in each country and by communicating the perspective and solutions of the veterinary profession.

 

Objective #3: Expand the Network

Veterinarians frequently work with other professions and sectors, but it is essential that they engage and collaborate more closely with other groups—including public health and food safety agencies, farmers, pharmaceutical companies, governments, and NGOs—on key issues. To expand their network and forge strong multidisciplinary alliances, they will need to:

• demonstrate veterinary leadership;
• remain true to veterinary principles, vision, and missions.

 

Objective No. 4: Advocate for the Profession

Speaking on behalf of veterinarians and safeguarding their interests—ensuring they are satisfied, valued, and rewarded in their practices—requires working more effectively with member organizations and bringing them closer together, which entails:

• better aligning the promotion of the profession’s interests at both the European and national levels;
• establishing closer ties with the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers;
• leveraging the power of FVE members more effectively.

 

Objective No. 5: Strengthen Lobbying Efforts

A stronger FVE requires its members to engage to the fullest extent of their potential in order to influence the issues that matter in their respective countries. To build a more stable, influential, and effective organization, we must:

• make the greatest possible impact given the available resources, while remaining realistic about the goals to be achieved and avoiding duplication of efforts with other organizations;
• improve the way we work on shared issues, avoiding duplication of effort and making full use of all available resources;
• strengthen internal communication by expanding the network of translators and exploring new ways to communicate with members.

  At the forefront of all these five-year objectives, the regulation on transmissible animal diseases should make EU legislation more consistent and establish minimum requirements. Livestock farmers and other animal owners will be required to apply the principles of good animal husbandry practices and the responsible use of veterinary medicinal products. Professionals will be required to register, and the Commission may ask Member States to establish an electronic database for dogs and other pets. After years of negotiations, the final version of this animal health law is expected to be adopted next fall.   * FVE Survey of the Veterinary Profession in Europe, April 2015, http://www.fve.org/news/download/FVE%20Survey%20_contents_tforce_ex_summary.pdf