MEPs invited to ‘free farmed animals from cages’ outside the EU Parliament

The End the Cage Age Coalition of 170 European NGOs, organised by Compassion in World Farming, will be asking MEPs to make a stand for farmed animals by freeing plush pigs, hens, rabbits and calves from cages in Place du Luxembourg, Brussels from 12.30 to 15.00 CEST.

World Cage Free Day was founded in 2020 to raise awareness of the miserable lives endured by around 300 million farmed animals confined in cages, crates and pens across Europe every year. The End the Cage Age coalition hopes it will soon be a day to celebrate the end of the cage age when this this cruel and unnecessary practice is banned across in the EU once and for all.

It all started in 2018, when Compassion led the coalition in organising the successful End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative, which was signed by 1.4 million people within one year. In 2021, the European Parliament unequivocally showed its support for a cage ban and shortly after, the European Commission made a historic, legally-binding commitment to present legislative proposals to ban caged systems for farmed animals by the end of 2023.

Yet the last Commission failed to deliver on this commitment, prompting legal action by the End the Cage Age Citizens’ Committee against the Commission to ensure it keeps its word. It is the first case to hold the Commission to account over its failure to act on an ECI that is has committed to deliver.

In October last year, the Commission’s own Eurobarometer survey revealed that an overwhelming nine out of ten (89%) EU citizens – around 400 million people – believe animals should not be farmed in individual cages. There is abundant scientific evidence confirming cages are severely detrimental to animal welfare. This includes the latest Scientific Opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), recommending that cages should no longer be used for laying hens, breeding sows, quail and ducks.

The NGOs are urging the Commission to now seize the momentum sparked by the consensus reached in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture report and deliver proposals to ban cages at the earliest opportunity possible, and by 2026 at the latest.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of Compassion in World Farming EU, said: “Through this event, and with the support of MEPs, we aim to highlight the immense suffering of the millions of animals still confined in cages across Europe, as well as the fact that a successful cage-free Europe is possible.

“In this new political term, we need the European Commission to deliver on its promise to ban cages at the earliest possible opportunity as well as the co-legislators to ensure the highest standards for farmed animals.”

MEPs and media professionals are invited to attend the event.

For more information about our work to end caged farming, visit www.endthecageage.eu

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please email marta.vigano@ciwf.org

Notes to editors

1. Around 300 million farmed animals are kept in cages across the EU each year, including around 150 million hens, 70 millions rabbits and 10 millions sows. Animals kept in cages are confined in barren environments, either overcrowded or completely lacking social contact, unable to turn around or express even the most basic behaviours.
2. According to the 2023 Eurobarometer, 94% of EU citizens believe that it is important that farmed animals are provided with enough space to be able to move around, lie down and stand up, and 89% believe that it is important that farm animals are not kept in individual cages.
3. In its latest Scientific Opinions on animal welfare, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends that cages should no longer be used for laying hens, breeding sows, quail and ducks to protect the welfare of those species.
4. Our report Food businesses paving the way for a cage-free Europe shows how several well-known European businesses are phasing out cages from their supply chains and calling on the European Commission to ensure a level-playing field by delivering a ban on cages.
5. In March 2024 the Citizen’s Committee of the End the Cage Age European Citizens Initiative (ECI) launched a landmark legal action against the European Commission.