With a newly-elected European Parliament, a freshly-confirmed European Commission, our landmark End the Cage Age legal action and key reports on reshaping the future of EU agriculture and food systems, 2024 was surely an eventful year for millions of animals farmed in Europe.

Millions of farmed animals suffered across the EU

Confined in cages, trapped in factory farms or transported in stressful conditions across Europe or to third countries, too many animals farmed across the EU have continued to suffer in 2024.

In November, our undercover investigation, exposed the immense cruelty endured by around 70 million rabbits still caged on farms across Europe. We found rabbits and does in cages so small they could not even stretch, chewing at cage bars, sometimes even confined in cages alongside dead rabbits. All because the Commission has failed to deliver its promised ban on caged animal farming.

Our latest research into octopus farming, released on World Octopus Day in October, found that several countries across the world have been pouring funds into research to develop octopus farming. In Europe, Spain used an estimated €3.6 million of EU funds to finance research into this cruel, unsustainable practice, which simply fails to meet even the most basic behavioural needs of octopuses. This is despite an overwhelming 91% of people polled across nine EU countries believing that aquatic animal welfare should be protected at the very least to the same level as other farmed animals.

While in 2023 the European Commission presented a proposal to amend the block’s outdated animals transport laws, the EU still allows the long distance transportation of live animals within Europe and to third countries. This means stressful, and sometimes dangerous, trips by road or sea lasting up to three weeks, where calves, pigs and other animals are subject to unnecessary suffering.

In the face of this ongoing suffering, we couldn’t shy away from acting.

Landmark legal action launched against the EU Commission

Despite its legally-binding commitment made in 2021 in response to the successful End the Cage Age (EtCA) European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), the European Commission failed to deliver legislative proposals to ban cages by the end of 2023.

In response, the EtCA Citizens Committee launched, with our support, the landmark End the Cage Age lawsuit to ensure the European Commission delivers on its promises to ban caged farming. Filed in March, this is the first legal case to ever hold the Commission to account over its failure to respond to a successful ECI.

Showcasing the importance of a ban on cages for the environment, democracy and consumers protection, a few months later, several major EU NGOs asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to join the legal case, claiming their interests too were negatively affected by the Commission’s inaction.

If successful, the case will see the Commission compelled to establish a clear, reasonable timeline to publish the legislative proposal to ban cages, and to grant access to its files on the EtCA ECI. Stay tuned!

New chapter for animal welfare

In June, EU citizens cast their ballots and elected a new European Parliament – with over a 100 elected MEPs pledging to speak up for animals during the following legislative cycle. Shortly after, Ursula von der Leyen was confirmed for a second term at the helm of the European Commission.

In September, one of the most-awaited reports of the year was published, outlining the way forward for EU agriculture. The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture report followed months of consultations with 29 major voices from the EU agrifood sector – with animal welfare concerns represented by our Global CEO Philip Lymbery in his capacity as President of Eurogroup for Animals – and unanimously called on the Commission to publish proposals for a cage ban and for an overhaul of the animal welfare laws by 2026.

This positively reset the tone of the debate after a series of backsteps on green requirements within the Common Agricultural Policy in Spring, confirming that the transition towards a more sustainable food systems can benefit animals, farmers, consumers and the environment.

In line with the consensus reached by the Strategic Dialogue, our report Food Businesses paving the way for a cage-free Europe echoed that major European food companies are ready to transition to cage-free farming systems - some having already done so - but need the Commission to deliver a cage ban to ensure level-playing field and fair competition.

For the first time ever, the new set of Commissioners nominated by von der Leyen – and later confirmed by the European Parliament – saw a Commissioner with animal welfare unequivocally part of his title. While this responded to demands from the animal welfare movement to make animal welfare a political priority, this must not just be window-dressing.

During the confirmation hearings of Commissioners candidates, we heard strong commitments to improve the welfare of millions of animals farmed in the EU - from promises to deliver a ban on cages and a review of the animal welfare legislation to pledges to improving fish welfare - but regrettably no clear timeline for action.

While the withdrawal of the proposal for a Sustainable Food Systems Framework announced during the hearings is regrettable, the upcoming Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food is an opportunity for the Commission to build upon the recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue to make the sustainable food choice, the easy choice for European consumers.

On the 1st of December, the new European Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen, took office, officially starting a new term that we hope will improve the life conditions of millions of farmed animals and future-proof our food systems.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of EU at Compassion in World Farming, said: “As this year ends and a new legislative cycle begins, we look back at the tremendous suffering endured by animals farmed in cages and in factory farms, with the ever-stronger conviction this needs to change as soon as possible.”

“In the first 100 days of its mandate, the new European Commission must make it clear that its commitment to improve the welfare of millions of animals farmed in the EU will be translated into action. We need a Vision on the Future of EU Agriculture that sets a clear timeline for the ban on cages and a reviewed animal welfare laws pack by 2026. It must also detail how to fund higher-welfare, sustainable food systems through the CAP and other EU funds and encourages a reduction in the consumption of animal-based foods.”

As the new year approaches, we call on our supporters to engage with the European Commission and its President Ursula von der Leyen on social media, urging them to publish proposals to ban cages and reform the EU animal welfare laws by 2026, as recommended in the Strategic Dialogue report.