Legal Action: Commission Challenged Over Failure To Ban Caged Farming

The Citizens’ Committee of the successful End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) has taken a bold step forward in the fight against animal cruelty. On March 18th, the seven-member group announced the launch of legal action against the European Commission for its failure to uphold its commitment to banning caged farming.

According to the group, the decision to launch legal action came after the Commission reneged on its promise to introduce legislation banning cages, despite a commitment made in 2021 in which it made the following statement:

“While all farm animals benefit from current legislation on the protection of animals, only laying hens, broilers, sows and calves are covered by rules on caging. In its response to the ECI, the Commission commits to table, by the end of 2023, a legislative proposal to phase out, and finally prohibit, the use of cage systems for all animals mentioned in the Initiative.”

Following a successful ECI, signed by 1.4 million people and supported by a coalition of 170 NGOs, the Commission pledged to enact legislation for an EU-wide ban on caged farming by the end of 2023. However, with no action taken, the Citizens’ Committee decided to hold the Commission accountable through legal means, filing papers at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

The Citizens’ Committee of the ECI End the Cage Age consists of Olga Kikou, of Greece; Malgorzata … [+] Szadkowska of Poland; Leopoldine Charbonneaux of France; Romana Sonkova of Czechia; Geert Laugs of the Netherlands; Annamaria Pisapia of Italy; and Mahi Klosterhalfen of Germany

Citizens’ Committee of the ECI End the Cage Age

Olga Kikou, a member of the Citizens’ Committee, expressed the disappointment felt by millions of EU citizens and the plight of the 300 million animals still suffering in cages every day. She emphasized that there is no justification for further delays and that the Committee is committed to ensuring every cage becomes empty.

“We have launched this End the Cage Age legal action against the Commission on behalf of the voiceless animals and the millions of EU citizens who supported this legislation, believing the ECI to be a genuine democratic tool that would give them more influence over EU decision making. We will not rest until every cage is an empty cage,” she said.

The End the Cage Age legal action, funded by Compassion in World Farming, marks the first instance of holding the Commission accountable for its inaction on an ECI. If successful, the Commission would be compelled by the Court to publish its proposals within a reasonable timeframe and grant access to its file on the End the Cage Age ECI.

According to Compassion in World Farming, more than 300 million animals, including pigs, hens, rabbits, ducks, quail, and geese, endure unimaginable suffering in cages across the EU— from sows confined in tiny crates to rabbits enduring barren cages their entire lives.

According to Compassion in World Farming, more than 300 million pigs, hens, rabbits, ducks, quail … [+] and geese are suffering in cages across the EU – all subjected to cruelty and misery.

AFP via Getty Images

Public opinion strongly opposes caged farming, with a staggering 89% of EU citizens believing animals should not be farmed in individual cages, as revealed in the Commission’s own Eurobarometer survey. Additionally, the European Food Safety Authority has supported the phasing out of cages on welfare grounds for various species.

According to the group, the Commission’s failure to act is particularly disheartening considering the extensive preparations, assessments, and consultations conducted by Commission officials. The proposed legislation also includes provisions for financial support to aid farmers in transitioning to cage-free systems, a move endorsed by the animal welfare movement.

In mid-September 2023, the Financial Times disclosed that the EU was contemplating abandoning its proposals for more stringent animal welfare regulations, such as the prohibition of caged farming. A few days later, during a speech addressing the priorities of the European Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen neglected to address intentions regarding the publication of these new laws.

Compassion in World Farming has accused the Commission of succumbing to pressure from the agriculture lobby, stating that President von der Leyen’s alignment with the interests of the farming federation Copa Cogeca further exacerbated the situation.

In June 2023, an investigation conducted by Politico and Lighthouse Reports uncovered the substantial influence exerted by the factory farming lobby in Brussels over the EU decision-making process.

In light of these developments, the legal action initiated by the Citizens’ Committee underscores the urgent need for action to end the suffering of animals trapped in cages.

The ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens’ Initiative has garnered substantial backing from the European Parliament, with eight out of ten Members of the European Parliament voting in favor of discontinuing caged farming. The Initiative has received endorsements from over 170 organizations spanning Europe, including the European Committee of the Regions, scientific communities, representatives from the business sector, environmental advocacy groups, health and farming campaigners, and veterinary associations.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 2022/12/12: Veterinarian Dr. Marc Abraham (R) and Compassion In World … [+] Farming activists hold ‘End The Cage Age’ placards before submitting their petition to Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). The petition initiated by Veterinarian Dr. Marc Abraham and Compassion In World Farming activists is signed by nearly 400,000 people, calling for an end to the use of cages at UK farms, including farrowing crates for pigs and tiny cages for chickens. (Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images