A majority of MEPs on Thursday 15 April generally welcomed the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘End the Cage Age’. The aim of the ECI is to end the “inhumane treatment of farm animals” in cages by 2027.
A hearing was held on this ECI, which has collected 1.4 million signatures, at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committees on Petitions and Agriculture (see EUROPE 12089/11).
Several MEPs, including Norbert Lins (EPP, Germany) and Ulrike Müller (Renew Europe, Germany), highlighted the costs incurred by farmers in making these changes.
Some MEPs, such as Peter Jahr (EPP, Germany), called for a solution to the problem of imports from non-Member States that do not meet high animal welfare standards (unfair competition).
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy) called for a sufficient transitional period to adapt to the new rules.
Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, Germany) and Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Netherlands) supported and welcomed the ECI, while Ivan David (ID, Czech Republic) and Zbigniew Kuźmiuk (ECR, Poland) defended the “improved” cages.
EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides admitted that there are “alternatives” to cage farming and said the issue would be addressed when the Commission proposes a review of animal welfare legislation in 2023. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)