There is no reason for the Commission to interfere, said EU Commissioner , Neil Kinnock, in response to questions on the Norwegian seal hunt raised by MEP Vivienne Reding at a meeting of the European Parliament on April 5th this year. Reding asked, Does the Commission intend to protest to the Norwegian authorities with the aim of stopping the hunting of baby seals banned since 1989? and What will the Commission do to ensure that this barbarous practice does not resume?

As the honourable Member with a special interest in this matter will be aware, harp and hooded seals are not classified as endangered species and there is no doubt about the sustainability of a hunt at the levels proposed. In addition, and I wish to emphasise this point, because Norway will continue its ban on commercial hunting of seal pups I am informed, there is no reason for the Commission to interfere in this matter, Kinnock replied.

On April 4th, a proposal for an emergency resolution condemning the Norwegian seal hunt did not succeed in passing the selection procedure and never reached the floor.