EU support for livestock farmers in response to the disastrous impact of the spread of sheep and goat plague

Question for written answer E-001447/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Emmanouil Kefalogiannis (PPE)

Small ruminant plague (peste des petits ruminants - PPR) is a viral disease of sheep and goats which had never been recorded in the EU before the outbreak in Bulgaria in 2018. In Greece, unfortunately, during the recent period since the outbreak in Thessaly, the disease appears to have been spreading, as cases have also been confirmed in the Peloponnese. The Greek authorities promptly and effectively implemented the measures set out in the EU legislation (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687).

However, the rapid spread of the virus is an issue of some concern to the competent authorities and to livestock farmers, since it threatens disastrous consequences for livestock farmers and, at the same time, causes huge losses in the milk supply chain for producers of feta, and also in the meat supply chain.

At a time when livestock farming and food processing are already facing difficulties due to rising prices of energy and animal feed,

• 1.Does the Commission consider it necessary to provide financial support to help Greek livestock farmers deal with the spread of small ruminant plague?
• 2.How does it intend to help Member States improve the strategies for monitoring and preventing small ruminant plague in the European Union?

Submitted: 29.7.2024