The European Commission leaves animal welfare out of its agenda for 2026!

The presentation of the European Commission's Work Plan for 2026, under the slogan "Europe’s Independence Moment," has generated deep concern among organizations working for animal protection. The document, presented on October 21 in the European Parliament, includes no specific legislative proposals on animal welfare, despite prior commitments by the Commission to review and update current regulations, including the prohibition of cage farming. This absence is particularly alarming, considering the public statements by the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Olivér Várhelyi, who had assured that the first legislative proposals would be presented in 2026, starting with the welfare of laying hens. However, the recently published plan omits any reference to such a legislative package, limiting itself to a generic mention of animal husbandry and animal welfare within non-legislative actions. The comprehensive review of European legislation on animal welfare has been pending for ...