(6)The aim of the amended initiative as expressed by the organisers is to call on the Commission, ‘within the limits of its competences, to put forward proposals for legal acts of the Union to strengthen the protection of stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU and to ensure that EU action in third countries does not contribute to animal suffering’. In particular, the initiative ‘aims to further restrict the use of dogs and cats for scientific purposes, including possible amendments to Directive 2010/63/EU’ and calls for ‘EU trade, association and financing instruments’ to ‘be designed in such a way that EU funds, trade benefits or cooperation will only be granted if minimum standards for the protection of dogs and cats are respected’. The organisers of the initiative also consider that ‘sustainable, humane measures such as population management, castration and vaccination programmes, veterinary care, registration and animal welfare education’ should be promoted. An annex to the amended initiative provides further details on its background, its subject matter and its objectives.
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