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The accession of Bulgaria and Romania
to the European Union on 1 January 2007 brings
the total of countries in the enlarged EU to 27
- an increase of 12 new Member States since 2004.
New countries bring with them their own traditions,
strengths and, of course, animal welfare issues
and Eurogroup works to ensure that European Community
legislation relating to animal welfare is properly
transposed, implemented and enforced in all new
Member States.
We have active working relationships with Non-governmental
Organisations (NGOs) in all the countries that
joined in 2004. NGO representatives participate
regularly in meetings organised in Brussels and,
through Eurogroup, visit Members of the European
Parliament of their respective country.
We also work in advance of accessions
developing contacts with animal welfare organisations
in EU candidate countries. Such work is already
in progress with animal welfare organisations
in Croatia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia.
Eurogroup believes that enlargement
also means good news for animals. Now composed
of 27 countries, the EU has become a stronger
force to push for recognition of animal welfare
on the international stage. We will focus on this
objective as the EU continues to expand.
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