As Dutch hen farmer, Eva Vos, from Initiatiefnemer Natuurboerderij KipEigen told us:

It's wonderful to see how we can give chickens the best life they deserve, while at the same time we can make positive impacts on biodiversity, climate and producing healthy products. In this regenerative system, the synergy is there. It’s all happening on our small-scale community supported farm, KipEigen.

Farmers from Austria, the Netherlands, and France echoed her words – describing cage-free farming as better for animals, better for soil and biodiversity, and commercially viable when the playing field is fair.

190 days to keep its promise

Following the successful End the Cage Age ECI, the Commission committed to putting forward the proposals in 2023, but is yet to deliver on its promise.

Meanwhile, each year, roughly 300 million animals remain trapped in cages.

Cage‑free farmers emphasised that they are already doing their part – but many are held back by outdated regulations and a market distorted by cheaper, caged production.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of EU at Compassion in World Farming, said:

Today, European farmers have come to the European Commission to show that a cage-free future is not only possible, it’s already happening.

With 190 days until the Commission is due to bring forward proposals, farmers, campaigners and citizens are calling on the EU to deliver on its promise and finally End the Cage Age for the 300 million animals still trapped in cages each year.

United to improve the life of millions

Commission officials and Members of the European Parliament, including Veronika Vrecionová and Arash Saeidi, joined out event – co-organised with Eurogroup for Animals, Animal International and FOUR PAWS International – where we demanded clear action to improve animal welfare standards across the EU and level the playing field for farmers paving the way to a cage-free future.

Citizens are watching. Farmers are speaking out. And Europe’s credibility on animal welfare is at stake.

Urge the Commission to keep its promise: we need ambitious legislative proposals to End the Cage Age for all farmed animals by the end of 2026.

The clock is ticking.

Farmers joined our call to End the Cage Age