HOW DO YOU FORESEE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE TO DEVELOP AND SUCCEED ON THE GLOBAL MARKET IN THE FUTURE?

At the moment European agriculture is very dynamic and at a regulatory crossroad. We need to truly move forward towards sustainable agriculture, biological and local production, production methods that implement fully good animal welfare standards, and shorter transports. This naturally entails that European agriculture has no practice of cloning of animals for food. Also, we need to realize that GMO agriculture is an unsustainable practice, destroying biodiversity and polluting surface and drinking water with its heavy pesticide use. Agriculture is a necessity, and the conservation of agriculture in Europe is of paramount importance for the food production in the EU.

DO YOU THINK THAT FUR FARMING CONTRIBUTES MORE OR LESS TO THE POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMPARED TO OTHER FORMS OF AGRICULTRUAL ACTIVITY?

Because fur farming is completely unnecessary, the pollution that is a consequence of fur farming is completely unnecessary. The term'fur farming' is completely wrong. Farming and agriculture have to do with the production of food. 'Fur farming' has nothing to do with food production. I have visited several fur farms in the Netherlands - it is torture of animals in its most perverse form. By putting 'fur farming' under agriculture you sell short the true farmers who supply us with wholesome food and who truly care about animal welfare. When it comes to agricultural activities, one needs to find the least polluting method of production. In my opinion, fur farming should be abolished and so, the pollution would go away naturally.

DO YOU THINK THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PUTS ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE POLUTION CAUSED BY AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES?

No. Too often economic and short term interests have the upper hand, which is often caused by ambiguous EU policies. The EU claims to have green agriculture, but yet the EU still heavily subsidizes and gives economic incentives to intensive agriculture focused on maximum output of production. It is up to us politicians to safeguard the environment by enacting environmental legislation that protects the environment and which can be adhered to in practice by farmers.

IS THERE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE POLUTION CAUSED AND THE ADDED VALUE OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION?

If there is a balance at all, it has been lost. We can now only make improvements for the environment's sake.

THE DISCUSSION ABOUT INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES AND BIODIVERSITY HAS BEEN ON THE EU AGENDA FOR SOME TIME? DO YOU THINK THIS DISCUSSION SHOULD HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON FUR FARMNING?

None at all. You cannot solve the problems of invasive alien species with fur farming, this is a ludicrous idea. You must go to the root of the problem, examine why and how these species have come to invade and encroach on the European biodiversity. In this respect a ban on the import of fur and fur animals is a good start.

SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE DECIDED TO BAN FUR FARMING. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS?

This is the only correct option. In my country, the Netherlands, there is already a ban on fur farming. It is a barbaric practice and completely goes against the EU animal welfare policies. If the EU can change this by ending fur farming and make a positive difference for animal welfare, I shall support it.

WHAT IS THE BEST ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR FUR PRODUCTION?

In my opinion there is none.

WHAT IS THE BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST FURPRODUCTION?

Animal welfare

DO YOU FAVOUR EUROPEAN OR NATIONAL REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL WELFARE?

In principle, I believe that Member States should make their own legislation. But when Member States fail or ignore to safeguard animal welfare, I can support the EU stepping in and making legislation. With regards to fur farming I do not believe that there should be any other EU-legislation than a ban. Any other EU legislation on fur farming would give a form of animal production that I do not believe should exist at all some kind of legitimacy.

Kartika Tamara Liotard is a Dutch politician and Member of the European Parliament (since 2004). She used to be a member of the Socialist Party, is vice-chair of the EUL-NGL group, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.