"Hoomans, vote for us"
The 2024 EU elections are deemed crucial for animal welfare, with key decisions pending on issues like banning fur farming and caged hens. A proposed EU-wide animal welfare law, previously anticipated last year, remains unenacted due to agricultural lobby pressures. Although a proposal regarding animal transport saw some advancements, such as restrictions on transport times and temperatures, it lacked a ban on exporting live animals outside the EU, which was a significant point of contention.
Numerous animal rights organizations are actively campaigning to influence both voters and candidates through the "Vote for Animals" campaign, advocating for various animal-related issues. This campaign encourages candidates to commit to improving animal welfare across ten areas, ranging from legislation to better conditions for aquatic life and appointing an animal welfare commissioner.
Moreover, the review of the animal welfare law is part of a broader agenda for post-election consideration, along with the potential lowering of protection statuses for certain wildlife species. The new legislation is critical, considering the current law's outdated nature and the potential disaster if updates fail. This urgency is compounded by popular initiatives like "End Cage Age" and "Fur Free Europe," both supported by over a million EU citizens, signaling strong public backing for substantial animal welfare reforms.
