EUforAnimals – A Victory For Animal Welfare in Europe

Through the #EUforAnimals campaign, we worked alongside partner organisations across Europe to advocate for a strong political voice for animals. This goal was achieved in September 2024: since then, the relevant EU Commissioner has held the title ‘for Health, Food Safety and Animal Welfare’. This means that animal protection has, for the first time, been explicitly enshrined in the structure of the European Commission – a historic success for European animal welfare. This step is an important milestone in the recognition of animals as sentient beings and a clear signal that Europe will take their interests more seriously in future.

About the Campaign

Animal welfare is a key concern for millions of Europeans. Yet, for a long time, animal welfare has been overshadowed by economic interests in EU policy.
The #EUforAnimals campaign therefore fought to ensure that animal welfare was visibly and securely enshrined within the structure of the European Commission – by adding ‘animal welfare’ to the official title of the Commissioner responsible.

Backed by numerous citizens, organisations and Members of the European Parliament, the initiative called for greater accountability, transparency and political responsibility.
This objective was achieved with the creation of the new post of Commissioner in 2024 – a step that reinforces the importance of animal welfare and lays the foundations for a more consistent EU animal welfare policy.

Widespead Support Across Europe

Over 60 European animal welfare and animal rights organisations and more than 200 Members of the European Parliament supported the #EUforAnimals campaign.
On 24th October 2023, 309,897 signatures were handed over to the European Parliament – a powerful statement by European citizens in favour of an institutionally enshrined voice for animals.
This broad support was crucial to the campaign’s success and demonstrates that animal welfare has long since become a key social concern in the European Union.

Animal Society’s Involvement

From autumn 2021, Animal Society has been working alongside more than 60 organisations from across Europe to strengthen the political representation of animals in the EU. We contacted all German-speaking Members of the European Parliament, held discussions in Brussels and delivered hundreds of personal letters asking for animal welfare to be established as a separate area of responsibility within the Commission.

Thanks to these joint efforts, the support of over 300,000 citizens and more than 200 Members of Parliament, the political pressure became strong enough to bring about the change.

Since September 2024, the relevant EU Commissioner has officially held the title ‘for Health, Food Safety and Animal Welfare’ – a historic step forward, demonstrating that:
animal welfare belongs at the heart of European policy.

5 Reasons Why an EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare is So Essential    

Animal Welfare is Important to Europeans

With the new Commissioner’s responsibilities ‘for Health, Food Safety and Animal Welfare’, the protection of animals is now officially enshrined in the European Commission – a major step forward. But the responsibility does not end there: animals are recognised as sentient beings in the Treaty on European Union, and the majority of citizens expect policymakers and legislators to prioritise their welfare. The success of the campaign was therefore only the first step towards meeting these expectations.

There is Still a Need to Improve Animal Welfare Further

Since the 1970s, the EU has introduced important legislation to protect animals – such as the ban on veal crates and battery cages. However, many animal species are still not adequately protected. The newly appointed Commissioner for Animal Welfare now offers an opportunity to close these gaps and further develop EU animal welfare legislation. The success of the campaign strengthens the foundation and offers opportunities for future progress.

European Neighbours are Leading the Way  

Some EU Member States have already demonstrated that a clear institutional separation of agricultural interests and animal welfare leads to better outcomes – for example, Belgium, where there have been separate ministries for animal welfare since 2014. These examples show how important it is to have a dedicated body responsible for animal welfare. The new EU structure can now promote this approach across Europe.

Economic Interests Must Not be Allowed to Hold Back Progress For Animal Welfare

The campaign’s success has also sent a message regarding the excessive influence of business lobbies. All too often, the implementation or tightening of existing laws has been delayed by profit-driven interests – such as, the case of live animal transport. With a Commissioner who is specifically responsible for animal welfare, there is now a stronger voice to counter such obstacles.

The New Title is a Milestone – Not the End of the Journey

The inclusion of animal welfare in the official title of the EU Commissioner was a historic step. However, improving animal welfare remains an ongoing mission: animals will only truly benefit if the new policy framework is backed up by ambitious legislation, clear targets and sufficient resources. The success of the #EUforAnimals campaign was not the end – but the beginning of a new phase in European animal welfare policy.