Thank you, Chair, dear Niels, thank you for the invitation. I also want to thank the members of this intergroup, one of the largest, for their hospitality. We have spoken before during the plenary session last December, and I am pleased to be here again for a more direct exchange.

This is a good time to address this group, early in our mandate, to give an overview of what you can expect from the new Commission regarding animal welfare. Currently, there are two legislative proposals under discussion in the European Parliament and the Council. The first concerns the protection of animals during transport, the second the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats.

The animal transport proposal includes many recommendations from this House, including specific provisions for transport to slaughterhouses and aquatic animals. I am hopeful that the inter-institutional processes can reach a balanced approach that improves animal welfare without harming the sectors competitiveness. I encourage all parties to find solutions.

For the dogs and cats proposal, the first EU rule for pets, I rely on this House to address the main aspects of this legislation so that we can achieve a feasible and enforceable outcome that meets citizens expectations.

In addition to these proposals, we remain committed during this mandate to improving animal welfare. The Commission adopted a new vision for agriculture and food on February 19, providing a clear policy framework for this mandate. Although there is a plenary discussion on this vision, I hope members will come here after to listen to us as well.

Our agriculture can only be competitive and sustainable if we perform in this area. We must remain competitive to combine citizens needs and expectations for affordable, healthy, and animal-friendly food with the economic and social enforcement of rules by our farmers.

The Commission also wants to address the successful European Citizens Initiative End the Cage Age. This work will be based on the latest scientific insights and consider the socio-economic impact on farmers and the agri-food chain. It offers an opportunity to improve animal welfare and respond to the requests in this initiative.

We must ensure that what we propose also improves the competitiveness of the European livestock sector. This year, we aim to use dialogue and potential solutions for a new proposal. A first proposal is expected next year.

Effective action requires dialogue with all stakeholders, including farmers, the food chain, and civil society organizations. I intend to engage with all relevant parties, sector by sector, to ensure a comprehensive approach and prioritize areas for intervention.

A clear expression of citizens concerns about animal welfare is the European Citizens Initiative. The Commission has responded positively to this and is working on its implementation. While we wait for new proposals and later new legislation, we must not waste time improving animal welfare on the ground.

Legislative proposals change reality only years from now, but enforcement can change things now. Better compliance can change these realities. I am willing to personally intervene in any case that goes against our rules, as we need much better and more uniform enforcement of the current rules.

Many shocking cases in Europe could not have happened if the current rules were properly enforced. Innovation is essential for improving animal welfare. Rules can incentivize investment in modern technologies like precision livestock farming and welfare monitoring systems.

This can help us lower costs, improve productivity, and achieve better outcomes in animal welfare. By focusing on outcomes, we can better adapt our industry and farmers, without seeing high animal welfare standards as additional costs, but rather as considerable benefits for both farmers and animals.

Good animal welfare means healthier animals, quality food, and high-quality meat. We must also tackle the global threat of antimicrobial resistance and take balanced measures that meet expectations and maintain the competitiveness of our agri-food sector. We must ensure reciprocity in animal welfare and health standards with third countries.

We must avoid importing products with lower standards from third countries, which undermines our efforts. I believe dialogue and collaboration with all parties will enable us to improve the current regulatory framework.

These are the main ideas I want to share with you, and I am happy to answer your questions.

Thank you.