FORMER National Hunt jockey Nina Carberry has been appointed as co-chair of the MEP Horse Group. Carberry convened key stakeholders from across Europe in Brussels on Tuesday for the group’s inaugural meeting of the new European Parliament term.

The meeting addressed critical challenges facing the equine sector, with Carberry emphasising strategic policies to enhance animal welfare, promote rural development, and foster sustainable industry growth.

Highlighting her roles in the Transport and Tourism Committee and Budget Committee, she pledged to explore funding opportunities at the EU level.

A key agenda item was the review of ‘Animal Welfare in Transport’ legislation, with Carberry calling for sensible reforms informed by robust impact assessments.

Other priorities included the European Food Safety Authority’s upcoming equine welfare guidance and the European Medicines Agency’s revised list of essential veterinary substances.

Carberry underscored the importance of integrating equine activities into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a vital driver of rural economies, particularly in Ireland, where the sector supports over 30,000 jobs.

The Fine Gael MEP also used the opportunity to highlight the need for an EU-wide equine identification system to enhance traceability, combat fraud, and improve welfare standards.

“The equine sector is at a pivotal moment,” Carberry stated. “It demands renewed attention and a strategic vision to ensure its sustainability, competitiveness, and contribution to both Ireland and Europe’s economic and environmental goals.”