On 5 February 2025, an event held in Brussels by Eurogroup for Animals and Compassion in World Farming highlighted the challenges of modernising animal welfare in Europe. Discussions focused on the need for financial support to assist farmers in transitioning to more animal-friendly agricultural systems.
Eurogroup for Animals and Compassion in World Farming are calling for the European Commission to include several important measures in its forthcoming Vision for Agriculture and Food, including:
- A full revision of the EU animal welfare legislation by 2026— including a ban on cages—aligned with the European Food Safety Agency’s recommendations;
- A post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy that supports farmers transitioning to higher welfare, with animal welfare as a standalone objective;
- Ensuring that imported animal products comply with updated EU welfare rules and that trade agreements are conditional on equivalent standards;
- Rules addressing the animal welfare and ecological impact of fish and seafood production and consumption;
- The implementation of a multi-tiered EU-wide animal welfare labelling scheme that covers all animal products, rewarding farmers that exceed the newly established minimum standards;
- Policies that make healthy food affordable and accessible, with a shift towards plant-based diets.
Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér VÁRHELYI, emphasised that modernisation presents an opportunity to improve farming conditions, meet citizens’ expectations, and enhance the sector’s competitiveness. He indicated that the first legislative proposals under the "End the Cage Age" initiative should be presented in 2026.