Since 1974, the European Union has been working to pass legislation aimed at improving the conditions of millions of animals within its borders. While notable progress has been achieved over the past decades, there has been a worrying trend towards legislative stagnation in recent years. This inertia has greatly favored sectors whose activities rely on the exploitation of animals, particularly intensive livestock farming.
Against this backdrop, GAIA launched the #EUforAnimals campaign in March 2021, garnering support from 62 European associations. Its primary objective? To ensure that animal welfare is explicitly included in the title of the relevant European Commissioner.
According to a recent European opinion survey conducted in June 2021 in ten EU member states, collectively representing 80% of the EU population (Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden), it appears that 7 out of 10 EU citizens are in favor of the appointment of a European Commissioner for Animal Welfare.
