Friedrich Merz (CDU) will der rechtsextremen AfD wichtige Chefposten überlassen. Das muss die SPD verhindern.

Following its departure from Haifa port on February 22 2025, the sea vessel Express M encountered several issues at sea that led to significant delays in its journey, resulting in great suffering to the nearly 3,000 animals onboard. Ultimately, the Express M reached its destination on March 9 2025: 15 days after it set off, when the crossing should have taken no longer than six. This open letter calls on the European Commission and Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, to look more closely at this situation and the actions that were taken that increased the risk of animal suffering. The letter also emphasises the risks inherent with sea transport. The EU cannot ensure the safety and welfare of animals once they leave EU shores, and in this case, thousands of animals were stranded in unacceptable conditions for over two weeks. As EU policy-makers continue to work on the Transport Regulation, they must seriously consider phasing out sea transport, to avoid similar situations unfolding in the future.