Bullfighting: 64% of MEPs Vote to End Subsidies for Bull Breeding

On October 28, 438 of the 687 Members of the European Parliament gathered for a plenary session voted in favor of ending European agricultural subsidies for bullfighting. With nearly 64% of the votes, an absolute majority was comfortably achieved. This marks a major step forward in the fight against bullfighting in Europe, as this practice—which operates at a chronic loss—survives only through financial support. This is cause for celebration among the many citizens and organizations that worked to achieve this result, including the Radical Anti-Bullfighting Committee (CRAC Europe) and the Collective of Veterinarians for the Abolition of Bullfighting (COVAC). However, one more hurdle remains: European finance ministers must approve the amendment that was passed for it to become law and take effect. Last year, at almost the same time, an identical amendment—aimed at excluding bullfighting bulls from European subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)—was rejected. It had also secured a majority, albeit a relative one, due to a high rate of abstentions. At the time, only 44 more MEPs were needed to reach a qualified majority. Today, it’s a done deal—and well beyond expectations: 438 MEPs voted to end the subsidies in 2015, compared to 332 in 2014, 199 voted against in 2015 versus 298 in 2014. The European Parliament does not share the same ambitions as the member states regarding the 2016 budget. In fact, MEPs are demanding some 4 billion euros more than the proposed budget of 153 billion. In this context, fighting bull farms could well be deprived of European Union subsidies as early as next year. The drafting and oversight of the EU budget follow strict rules established by the treaties. Decision-making authority lies with the member states through the Council and the European Parliament. In 2014, the EU budget totaled 135.5 billion euros. After Germany, France is the second-largest contributor, but it is also a major beneficiary of European spending, particularly through the CAP. As for the French, Spanish, and Portuguese bullfighting industries, they receive more than 100 million euros per year in subsidies from Brussels. The next step is on November 26, with the vote on the budget in the European Parliament. Let’s hope that the budget cut, which was the subject of such a significant vote, will be definitively adopted, sounding the death knell for bullfighting. To learn more: Cyberaction No. 754: Say STOP to European subsidies for bullfighting, http://www.cyberacteurs.org/cyberactions/dites-stop-subventions-europeennes-1046.html