MADRID, May 16 (UPI) -- The Spanish bullfighting industry would be close to bankrupt without European agricultural grants, four legislators say, calling for a halt to the aid.
Alfred Bosch, Ana Miranda, Raúl Romeva and Ramón Tremosa, who represent Spain in the European Parliament, say the money is used not for breeding bulls but for promoting bullfighting, ThinkSPAIN reported Thursday. They said Spain uses about 130 million euros ($170 million) for that purpose every year from the European Union.
Without it, they said, bullfighting would be "on the edge of bankruptcy."
The group called for fines for EU members who use agricultural assistance for "breeding bulls for a questionable form of entertainment."
Bullfighting is believed to be descended from prehistoric rituals. It is practiced in Spain, Portugal, parts of southern France and some former Spanish colonies, including the Philippines and some Latin American countries.
