BULLFIGHTING HAS NO PLACE IN MODERN EUROPE - MEP

1.14.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 4th Jun 2008

Liz Lynne at the bullfighting exhibition at the European Parliament in Brussels today.

Local LibDem MEP Liz Lynne has welcomed an exhibition in the European Parliament this week which shows the harsh realities of bullfighting, saying it has no place in a modern civilised society.

While its popularity is decreasing, bullfighting is still responsible for some 40,000 bull deaths across the EU. Last year over 200 MEPs, including Liz, signed a Written Declaration calling for an EU ban on bullfighting and include bullfighting in the EU moves to improve animal welfare.

Speaking after visiting the exhibition in Brussels today, Liz Lynne said:

"Bullfighting belongs to a barbaric, bygone age with the likes of bear-baiting and cock-fighting. Fortunately the tide of popular opinion is turning against it, even in its heartland of Spain, and its decline can't come soon enough."

Many towns in the north-east of Spain, including Barcelona, have now banned bullfighting, as have the Canary Islands, while a recent survey showed that over 70% of Spaniards have 'no interest in bullfighting'.

Liz continued:

"It is a great shame that farms that breed bulls for fighting are still able to receive subsidies and this still needs to be addressed urgently. The fact that some local councils in Spain also choose to subsidise bullfights because they are no longer financially viable as a public spectacle, shows they belong to a dying industry. Spain has many beautiful cultural assets which are far more deserving of financial support."

ENDS

PHOTO CAPTION: Liz Lynne at the bullfighting exhibition at the European Parliament in Brussels today.