Commenting on the issue of stray dogs in BiH, a topic raised in recent public correspondence, Andy McGuffie EUD/EUSR spokesperson said:

“The EU is aware that Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries are currently facing problems with the control of the companion animal population, including the welfare of stray dogs. There is in fact no relevant legislation at EU level that directly addresses the welfare of dogs and cats. This area is regulated at national level by each individual Member State.

“The responsibility for this issue therefore falls exclusively on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The national animal welfare legislation of a third country that seeks to apply for EU membership needs to be fully aligned with the relevant EU law and this is a prerequisite for EU membership. Technical assistance is available and offered to candidate countries both for the transposition and the implementation of EU legislation. Implementing EU legislation on animal welfare in candidate and potential candidate countries is monitored in the Commission’s annual Progress Report.

“Nonetheless, the EU is implementing a substantial 5-year animal disease control programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the eradication of rabies. In addition to a country-wide rabies vaccination programme which targets red foxes as the reservoirs of the disease, the assistance from IPA 2012 also includes financing to supply a certain number of rabies vaccines and microchips for stray dogs, to be applied by local veterinarians. In discussions with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have also proposed to make use of the TAIEX instrument to organise workshops on the stray dog/cat population management topic, which would facilitate exchange of experiences with the Member States’ experts. These workshops have been held in other countries in the region.

“Following a conference on ‘The welfare of dogs and cats in the European Union’, that took place in Brussels on 28 October 2013 at which a study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices was launched, the European Commission services are now considering what further action is necessary in order to improve animal welfare and to increase transparency and adequacy of information to consumers. The study itself is expected to be finalized early next year.

“While acknowledging that this issue falls outside the scope of EU legislation, we recall Bosnia and Herzegovina’s international obligations as a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The OIE standards emphasise the need to use parallel approaches in controlling stray dog population and consider that killing should be carried out in a humane way when necessary. It is up to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as member of the OIE, to consider how they might most appropriately use these international guidelines in their national context.

“We welcome the activities of the OIE Regional Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe. This Platform has agreed an action plan for 2014-2016 which includes the control of stray dog populations as one of three main topics.  The European Commission is fully supportive of this work and has contributed to the first OIE Regional Workshop on stray dog population management which was held in Bucharest on 17-19 June 2014. The workshop outcomes were reported on the occasion of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe held in Bern on 22-26 September 2014.The second Workshop on stray dog population management for Balkan countries is foreseen in June 2016.”