As President of the European Commission, you made an important public promise. That is why we are addressing you publicly today. Six years ago, more than 1.4 million citizens of the European Union signed the European Citizens’ Initiative “End the Cage Age” — thereby making use of the democratic instrument made available by the EU to enable civil society to participate directly in policymaking.
The demand was clear: end the use of cages in animal farming. In 2021, your Commission pledged to present a legislative proposal by 2023. That deadline has long since passed.
As a result of this broken promise, hundreds of millions of animals continue to suffer in cages. In July this year, the Commission put the issue back on the political agenda. The recently adopted EU Livestock Strategy sets out a legislative proposal that includes a ban on cages and on culling male chicks.
However, experience in recent years has shown that announcements by the Commission do not always bring about change. On 16 September you will deliver your State of the Union address. We urge you to stand up for animals and confirm before the European Parliament that your Commission will take immediate steps to implement the promised animal welfare reforms.
The suffering of hundreds of millions of animals is at stake — suffering that you can end through effective legislation. You also have a responsibility to honor the expectations of the millions of Europeans to whom you are accountable. The above column is sponsor-generated content.
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