Re-elected EU Commission President must deliver on ‘unfinished business’

Compassion yesterday welcomed the confirmation that Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission, a role she will have for the next five years. Her re-appointment provides some continuity and stability as the Commission changes, and we urge her to deliver on promises to end cages and take forward bold action on animal welfare and nature-friendly food systems.

Von der Leyen’s Parliament speech promised a greener future, with a fair deal for farmers

Following the vote in the Parliament on Thursday, Ursula von der Leyen gave a speech – based on her Political Guidelines – which outline the direction the new President intends to take for the term of the new mandate for both the European Parliament and Commission. She indicated that she will present a ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ building on the report of the Strategic Dialogues on the future of farming in the EU which she established earlier in 2024.

The report from the Strategic Dialogue, which will include recommendations on how the EU can evolve agriculture to provide a fair standard of living for farmers and rural communities while protecting the environment and biodiversity of rural areas, is expected to be published before the end of the summer.

We hope that President von der Leyen’s newly announced ‘vision’ will include a clear commitment, and timetable, for the Commission to present a suite of legislative reforms to improve animal welfare including a ban on the use of cages, and measures to protect European farmers from cheaper imports from countries with lower standards of welfare.

Promised cage ban is long overdue

In 2021, the European Commission promised to introduce proposals to ban the use of cages for farmed animals, following the successful ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens Initiative we spearheaded, along with over 170 NGOs, which resulted in 1.4 million signatures. These proposals were due by the end of 2023. However, a package of legislative proposals, which would have included a ban on cages, was largely shelved in autumn 2023 despite having all of the regulatory approvals and impact analysis in place. 

Our Global Director of Campaigns & Policy Advocacy, Debbie Tripley, said:

“The re-confirmation of President von der Leyen provides continuity at the top of the Commission as we anticipate a change in the majority of Commissioners in the Autumn. It was encouraging to read of the President’s intention to bring forward a ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ within her first 100 days and we hope that her vision will include the unfinished business of tabling proposals for a ban on caged farming across the EU”.

“We also welcome the emphasis on sustainability, as well as competitiveness - we need to move to forms of farming that work with nature, not against it, which is going to be vitally important as the European climate changes. We agree that farmers must be supported in this transition and encourage all decision-makers in the EU to be bold in examining how a reformed Common Agricultural Policy can support regenerative forms of agriculture while providing decent livelihoods for farmers.”

Despite reservations, Green political groups put faith in von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen was the sole nominee in the ballot of the European Parliament for the position of President of the Commission. She won with support of the Socialists & Democrats, Renew and Greens groups in addition to that her own European People’s Party group commanding the support of over 400 of the 701 MEPs who voted.

In confirming their support, the Greens noted that it was a “leap of faith” on their part given the lack of ambition on environmental and sustainability policies when compared to the ambition of the ‘Green Deal’ which formed such a fundamental part of von der Leyen’s first mandate.

“The difference in ambition on the ‘green’ agenda between this and the previous mandates is stark, at least on the face of it,” noted Tripley, “but what matters now is action – climate change and its devastating impacts are not going to go away regardless of the politics within Brussels. And so the imperative of Europe investing in a sustainable future remains critical for the health of people, planet and animals, and the long-term prosperity of Europe’s citizens.”

Read more about our End the Cage Age campaign.