Author: Bastien Valtille
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EU Livestock Strategy: time to drop the “green” illusion
Ahead of the EU Livestock Strategy expected in June 2026, the European Commission continues to promote a reassuring narrative: that animal farming sector in Europe is on a “greening” path. It isn’t. The Commission opened a public consultation on its upcoming strategy for animal farming, and AAFT shared their views. The science is clear. Emissions…
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Aquatic Animal Welfare at the Core: AA-FT Contributes to the EU Vision 2040 Consultation
Animal Advocacy & Food Transition (AA-FT) has responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture with a clear message: there is no sustainable future for the sector without binding aquatic animal welfare rules. As aquaculture continues to expand rapidly across the EU, an ever-growing number of aquatic animals are…
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End the Cage Age ECI before the Court of Justice
On 5 March, the Court of Justice of the European Union heard the case brought by the organisers of the End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) against the European Commission. The case could have important implications for the credibility and future use of the EU’s main instrument of participatory democracy. Facts and procedure…
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Strengthening Europe’s plant-based future: AAFT organizes high-level discussion in Cyprus
On Friday, 20 February 2026, Animal Advocacy & Food Transition in collaboration with the Cyprus University of Technology and Danish Plant-Based Diplomacy organised a high-level event titled “Strengthening Europe’s Plant-Based Future: Insights from Denmark and Pathways for Cyprus and the EU” at the Leventis Gallery in Nicosia. The event was under the auspices of the…
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Better Regulation, not deregulation: AAFT contributes to the EU public consultation
Animal Advocacy & Food Transition took part in the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the modernisation of the EU Better Regulation Framework, calling for a clear commitment to better regulation, not deregulation. At a time when “simplification” is increasingly used as a political slogan, it must not become a pretext for weakening EU protections…
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The EU-Mercosur Deal: A Step Backwards for Animals, the Environment and European Farmers
On the 17th of January 2026, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is expected to formally sign the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Presented as a strategic economic partnership, the deal exposes a profound contradiction at the heart of EU policy. At a time when the Union…
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Food affordability in the EU: making plant-based foods an affordable choice
AA-FT recently contributed to the European Commission survey on food affordability, aimed at collecting civil society input on how food prices and access may evolve in the coming years. Food affordability is increasingly affecting a broad range of households across the EU. Rising costs are limiting access to quality food, with the consumption of products…
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Biotech Act: Food Left Behind in Europe’s Innovation Strategy
The European Commission has presented, on the 16 December 2025, its European Biotech Act with the stated ambition of boosting innovation and competitiveness across the EU. The initiative aims to reduce regulatory bottlenecks and improve coordination for biotechnology and biomanufacturing. However, when it comes to food innovation, the Act falls short. While the Biotech Act…
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Beyond the EU Animal Welfare Consultation: What Comes Next?
The European Commission’s latest public consultation on farm animal welfare closed on Wednesday 17 December. With more than 236 000 contributors, including input from AAFT, attention now turns to next steps and whether this process will finally translate into concrete policy action. For years, EU institutions have acknowledged that current animal welfare laws are outdated…
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The urgent need to address harmful genetic selection practices
AA-FT has raised serious concerns with the European Commission about a long-standing yet often overlooked problem in EU farming: the widespread use of animal breeds whose genetics inevitably cause significant suffering. EU law is already clear. Council Directive 98/58 on the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes states that animals must not be kept…