The Brussels Times was side by side with us in shock that there was no mention of animal welfare in the European Commission’s 2026 Work Programme last week.
Quoting our Legislative Advocacy Manager Gabriela Kubíková in their article on 23rd October, they wrote that “the omission is particularly concerning given the crucial importance of this file for the EU’s animal agriculture sector, which clearly merits inclusion among the Commission’s key priorities for next year. After our disappointment in 2023, when the revision of the legislation largely fell through despite years of consultations, studies, and evidence-gathering, it is unsurprising that trust has eroded.”
The Brussels Times approached the Commission for a comment following the week of backlash from us and other animal advocates. According to reporter Mose Apelblat, “a source in the Commission replied […] that animal welfare remains a key priority. “On the basis of a sector-by-sector approach, it aims to present legislative proposals on the revision of the existing EU animal welfare legislation.”
“On the ECI specifically, “the Commission is carefully assessing important aspects to ensure that the transition to cage-free farming is sustainable for the agricultural sector and for our food systems, including food security.””
When asked to elaborate on the “elements on animal welfare” in the livestock strategy, the Commission referred Mose to the livestock workstream, launched by Commissioner Hansen in May 2025, which – according to DG SANTE in September – will include a follow-up on the Commission’s commitment to phase out the use of cages for certain species.
“A first legislative proposal is expected by the end of 2026 . . . but the sector(s) covered remain to be decided based on the stakeholder consultation and what is feasible for the sector(s) covered,” they told him.
We demand more clarity on timelines and concrete milestones for next year’s actions – and we urge the Commission, with the failed revision attempt of the past term in mind, to listen to the public and to the scientific evidence and finally finish the job.
We’re one of the NGOs included in Food Ingredients First’s coverage of the Livestock Strategy. “The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy struck a […] cautious tone,” they write. “It noted that the strategy “creates no legal obligations” by itself and that the cage phase-out is not yet dated. Still, it welcomed the fact that there are now concrete dates for legislative proposals.”
The European Commission revealed its Livestock Strategy today, adding yet another document to the Commission’s announced reforms for farmed animals. But announcements alone will not improve the lives of animals. We will continue the fight, with other animal advocates and concerned citizens, to make sure the Commission follows through on today’s announced reforms.
An open letter signed by more than 30 organizations was sent to Commissioner Hansen yesterday expressing concerns that the forthcoming Livestock Strategy will fail to recognize the scale of industrial animal farming’s contribution to global warming. Methane is the second largest contributor to present-day warming, after CO2 emissions – and in the EU, around 60% of all methane pollution comes from raising farmed animals.
