It is with this in mind that I have contacted the new EU Commissioner for fisheries, Maria Damanki, requesting she take swift action to approve and implement an EU action plan for seabirds.

Birdlife International recently revealed that up to 2 million seabirds have died in the last 10 years as a result of fishing industry practices in the waters around Europe and the Atlantic. This unnecessary slaughter must not be allowed to continue.

The action plan – which the EU committed to producing over a decade ago – will introduce minimum mitigation standards across Europe’s fishing fleet to minimise the by-catch of birds by European fishermen, and require greater reporting of bird deaths.

Alongside other Labour Euro MPs I will continue to keep the pressure up on the Commission to publish and implement the action plan, meanwhile residents in the South East interested in the subject can join me in signing an online petition to register their desire for the speedy implementation plan at the following address -  http://www.birdlife.org/eu/EU_policy/Fisheries_Marine/seabird_pledge.html

Every year around 100,000 horses are transported the length and breadth of the continent. These horses can travel for days in cramped conditions, often without proper rest, food or water.

I signed a European Parliament Written Declaration calling for the European Commission and Member States to scrutinise a dossier of evidence on horse transportation with regards to the rules on animal transport laid down in EU rules.

This Written Declaration, which is a chance for MEPs to voice their views on a particular matter of concern, follows on from a petition collected by the charity World Horse Welfare, which seeks to ensure fair protection for horses worldwide.

It is my hope that this Written Declaration will go some way towards ending the suffering of horses in the EU and improving animal welfare more generally.