Ahead of the State of the Union speech, civil society sounds alarm on the Commission’s deregulation agenda
On the eve of President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, hundreds of civil society organisations, trade unions, and public interest groups have voiced alarm over the European Commission’s push for deregulation. Just nine months into von der Leyen’s new term, the Commission is preparing an unprecedented drive to roll back protections […]
AAFT Responds to EU Call for Evidence on Cardiovascular Health
Animal Advocacy & Food Transition has participated in the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the upcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Europe, with most cases linked to preventable risk factors, such as diet. Europe’s current reliance on meat and other animal-based foods, rich in saturated fat […]
No Democracy without Civil Society: AAFT’s response to the EU’s Call for Evidence
In August 2025, the European Commission launched its Call for Evidence on the EU Civil Society Strategy. AAFT took this opportunity to stress the vital role of civil society organisations, and animal welfare NGOs in particular, in defending democratic accountability, ensuring science-based policymaking, and protecting the most vulnerable. At a moment when civic space is […]
Defending plant-based foods in Europe: We called on Greece and Cyprus to stand against label restrictions
On 2 September, EU Member States will gather for a Council working-level hearing on several proposals linked to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Market Organisation (CMO). Among the items on the agenda is a controversial attempt to restrict the use of familiar terms such as “veggie burger” or “plant-based sausage” for non-animal […]
The next CAP must do better for farmed animals: We ask the Commission to act
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission unveiled its proposal for the EU’s post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as part of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The reaction? Widespread concern, not least from the animal welfare community. According to independent analyses, the Commission’s proposal risks replicating, or even worsening, the shortcomings of the current […]
Animal Transport reform: will the EU finally catch up with science – and its own promises?
In December 2023, the European Commission released its long-awaited proposal to revise the EU rules on the transport of live animals, Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. This revision, part of the broader Farm to Fork Strategy, was meant to align the EU’s animal welfare laws with current scientific knowledge, improve enforcement and respond to growing public […]
A green signal from Denmark: EU Presidency pushes Protein Shift and Animal Welfare
Denmark has just taken the reins of the EU Council Presidency and their official programme brings some much-needed signals for a more ethical and sustainable food system. The declared priorities: strengthening animal welfare and accelerating the transition to sustainable protein sources – including through the development of a European strategy for plant-based proteins. After years […]
Following EFSA’s clear findings, AAFT calls on the Commission to improve the welfare of beef cattle
In its most recent scientific opinion, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) delivers a blistering reality check: beef cattle across the EU are frequently subjected to poor, outdated and harmful welfare conditions resulting in further suffering. The Opinion, adopted in June 2025, confirms what many scientists and civil society organisations – including AAFT – have […]
Europe needs a Plant-Based Protein Strategy: AAFT asks Agri Ministers to act
We need to shift towards a plant-based protein diet and food system, etc At its AGRIFISH Council meeting on 14 July 2025, EU agriculture ministers engaged in a much-needed discussion on the future of protein production in Europe, including how to support diversification and scale up more sustainable sources: plant-based proteins. This discussion, steered by […]
The European Commission opens its Call for Evidence on on-farm Animal Welfare – But will it deliver the overhaul we need?
On-farm animal welfare in the EU is finally on the table. In July 2025, the European Commission launched a Call for Evidence as the first step toward revising EU rules on how animals are treated on farms. This is a process we’ve long awaited and one we can’t afford to let go off-track. In submitting […]