President Ursula von der Leyen’ speech in the European Parliament focused mainly on unity, defence and competitiveness. The letter of intent, however, outlined the flagship initiatives for the year to come and set an important precedent for the work programme which will be published next month.
Animal protection organisations welcome the EC’s renewed commitment to animal welfare, marked as one of the pillars in securing the EU’s quality of life, including food security, water and nature. At a time when the EU faces significant geo-political challenges, it is of utmost importance that the EU does not push back on making moral progress and to transition towards food systems that are sustainable and ethical, while providing a level playing field for EU farmers to remain competitive.
In the upcoming year, the EC has the opportunity to highlight its promise to safeguard democracy by addressing the demands of citizens: 1.4 million citizens have asked for a ban on cages, while 1.5 million citizens have asked for a ban on fur farms and on the placement of fur products in the EU. The EC is still set to act on both ECIs.
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