A majority in the European Union’s legislature has declared its opposition to any use of farm subsidies for raising cattle for bullfighting.
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Catalonia banned bullfighting in 2011, joining the Canary Islands, while Left-wing city councils such as Madrid have removed subsidies for schools and other related institutions.
MEPs voted by 438 votes to 199 to approve the amendment, which now goes into negotiations between the bloc’s 28 member states to finalise next year’s budget figures.
The amendment to the 2016 budget stated that the EU’s agricultural policy “should not be used for the financing of lethal bullfighting activities” as doing so constitutes “a clear violation of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes”. Mimi Bekhechi, the director of animal rights organisation PETA, said: “This is a hugely significant decision that could be the final nail in the coffin for Spain’s already struggling bullfighting industry”.
Spanish matador El Juli holds bull’s ears as he celebrates during the El Pilar Feria at Pignatelli bullring in Zaragoza on October 12, 2014.
Mr Southern said: “People across Europe have spoken today, and it’s a great moment”.
“There is no justification for public money propping it up, and we are delighted that MEPs have now voted to end the subsidy”.
Such funds are reported to have been used in Portugal, Spain and France.
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Local Euro MP Vicky Ford has voted to stop British taxpayers cash going towards supporting Spanish bull fighting.
