Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP and the Chair of the MEPs For Wildlife Group, has written a letter to Michael Fallon MP, the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the killing of songbirds on a British military base in Cyprus.

Over 800,000 songbirds were illegally trapped and killed last Autumn according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

These creatures are being killed by illicit criminal gangs who profit from selling these birds on the black market.

Please see the letter below that was sent to Mr Fallon.

Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP, welcomes the new minimum standards proposed to improve the welfare of farmed rabbits.

Over 1.07 billion rabbits are slaughtered each year as the drive for global rabbit meat production continues to increase. This meant rabbits became the second most frequently farmed species after chickens in the EU in 2014.

Rabbits must have more space, the reports says. They must be also offered a better variety of food and a more natural level of social interaction.

Catherine Bearder MEP said:

“The EU must continue to maintain high levels of animal welfare - this is why I am supporting the proposed changes.”

“Not everyone is aware of the conditions of farmed rabbits, but the time has come to ensure they are treated as well as other farmed animals.”

“These measures will ensure rabbits are kept in more humane conditions. It is right to ensure these animals face a healthy and happy life.”

Today the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported EU-wide plans to cut down on food waste.

Wildlife protection programmes on UK Overseas Territories benefit from European funding worth up to £1.3m.

 The Overseas Territories range from the Carribean to the South Atlantic and are home to many endangered species.

In response to a letter from 35 Oxford University College leaders saying the university would suffer “enormous damage” if the Government fails to safeguard the future of EU nationals living in the UK, Catherine Bearder commented:

Today Europol has released the consultative draft of its Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA). The SOCTA sets the crime and security priorities for Europol for the next four years.

Neither wildlife crime nor environmental crime were listed as a “high priority” in the SOCTA.

The cross-party parliamentary group MEPs For Wildlife are urging EU Member States to prioritise wildlife trafficking in the SOCTA agenda.

Catherine Bearder, Chair of the MEPs For Wildlife group said:

“Only by making wildlife crime a high priority in the SOCTA will Europol be given the resources and people it needs to tackle wildlife trafficking.

“Wildlife trafficking is a high profit, low risk activity and involves organised criminal gangs. The money gained from the illegal wildlife trade is often used to fund terrorist groups and other money laundering schemes.”

Benedek Jávor MEP said: 

“Europol are essential in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade.

“In addition to nature conservation activities in source countries we need cross-border intelligence agencies like Europol to be stopping wildlife trafficking in the EU.”

SOCTA 2017: https://www.europol.europa.eu/activities-services/main-reports/european-union-serious-and-organised-crime-threat-assessment-2017

Today in the European Parliament, Environment Committee Euro MPs have called for immediate action to ensure palm oil entering the EU’s market is fully sustainable.

Today is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. 

In celebration of World Wildlife Day, Catherine Bearder MEP picks out her top wildlife wins and losses of 2016-17