The EU Dog & Cat Alliance welcomes the letter from a group of MEPs representing 15 different countries to the European Commission, calling upon it to ensure that the welfare of companion animals is included as a topic under the new EU Platform on Animal Welfare, recently introduced by the Commission. Whilst welcoming the increased focus on animal welfare and the involvement of the different EU institutions, Member States and NGOs in a direct dialogue, the Alliance and MEPs would like to ensure that the welfare of companion animals is also sufficiently covered under the Platform. The Platform would be instrumental in bringing to the forefront issues such as the illegal trade in dogs and cats in the EU, which can only be addressed at EU level through a comprehensive approach involving the European Commission, European Parliament and Member States, including agencies and border and veterinary authorities.