How animal-friendly is the European Union?

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," said Gandhi all these years ago.

So what 'moral progress' has since then been achieved in Europe where

-Animal torture has become TV entertainment?
Spain: Calves speared with banderillas

-Bloody traditions like annual whale massacres are still taking place?
Faroes Isles: Every year hundred of pilot whales are slaughtered in the Faroes Island
and: Whaling report calls Danish EU presidency into question

-Efforts against sharkfinning are sabotaged?
Germany: Captain Paul Watson: The Law Takes Precedence Over Justice in Germany...

-Horses are still slaughtered for meat?
Ireland: Toxic Irish horse meat ending up in European restaurants

- Horrendous tuna slaughter is taking place each year
Italy: ... how the frantic and panicked tunas are stacked on-top of each other, injuring themselves during the capture; and how they are violently struck with harpoons and dragged to the boats, they are then stabbed in the heart and left choking and bleeding to death...

- and astronomical numbers of innocent animals are killed routinely?

Source: Compilation EVANA
Author: div

Link: Link between animal abuse and family violence – developing a guideline for vets
Link: Scientific Opinion on the welfare of cattle kept for beef production and the welfare in intensive calf farming systems
Link: The OIE World Assembly of Delegates adopted first international standards on animal welfare in livestock production system