Ursula von der Leyen faces a five-year-old promise on cage farming

In October 2020, over 1.4 million verified signatures were submitted to the European Commission, calling for a ban on cage systems in animal farming. The initiative, organized by Compassion in World Farming and supported by 170 groups, received overwhelming backing from the European Parliament in June 2021. The Commission initially promised to introduce legislation by the end of 2023, yet that deadline passed without action. Organizers have since taken the matter to the Court of Justice, where the case remains pending.

While current reports suggest new proposals may appear by 2026 or 2027, the path forward remains fraught with potential delays and industry-led dilution. Advocates warn that excessively long transition periods or broad exemptions could undermine the original intent of the initiative. With the Commission’s own public consultation drawing over 236,000 responses, the pressure on the leadership to honor the democratic process is mounting. For those who utilized the official channels provided by the Union, the outcome of this week’s address will serve as a definitive test of whether their participation carries any weight in Brussels.