SOTEU: Six years. No law. Time to act, Ursula von der Leyen
Six years after 1.4 million Europeans asked the EU to end cages in farming, there is still no law. On 16 September, von der Leyen can change that.
Dear Ursula von der Leyen, it is crucial to address the ongoing issue of cages in animal farming, which has persisted for six years despite a clear promise made by your Commission. In 2015, over 1.4 million EU citizens signed the "End the Cage Age" initiative, advocating for the end of cage use in farming. Your Commission later pledged to introduce a legislative proposal by 2023, but that deadline has been missed, leaving hundreds of millions of animals suffering in cages.
In July 2022, the Commission reintroduced the issue on the political agenda, with a new EU Livestock Strategy proposing a ban on cages and the culling of male chicks. While this is a step in the right direction, history has shown that Commission announcements do not always translate into action. On September 16th, you will deliver your State of the Union address.
We urge you to take immediate action and confirm to the European Parliament that your Commission will implement the promised animal welfare reforms. The suffering of millions of animals is at stake, and your leadership can make a significant difference. As the representative of the millions of Europeans you serve, it is essential to send a clear message by September 16th.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
