Five years ago today (30 June), the European Commission committed to presenting legislative proposals to ban cages for all farmed animals, but it has so far failed to keep its promise, making a mockery of participatory democracy, says Compassion in World Farming.

To mark the anniversary of this historic, unfulfilled commitment, the End the Cage Age (EtCA) coalition, led by Compassion in World Farming, is gathering in Brussels to urge the European Commission to finally deliver the promised legislative proposals.

This comes as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen refused to meet with the EtCA Citizens’ Committee, after months of ignoring the request. The meeting was to make a clear and compelling case on behalf of the 1.4 million Europeans who supported the ECI and the almost 300 million animals who remain confined in cages across the EU every year.

The event, organised by Anima International on behalf of the EtCA coalition, is part of a coordinated wave of actions across Europe, counting down to the last quarter of 2026, when the Commission has promised to introduce legislative proposals. With the Commission having delayed once, the coalition wants to send a clear message to the EU’s executive that it expects nothing less than ambitious, comprehensive proposals to ban cages, for all species.

Annamaria Pisapia, Head of Compassion in World Farming Italy and spokesperson for the Citizens’ Committee of the EtCA ECI, said:

Five years ago, the European Commission made us and 1.4 million Europeans who supported the End the Cage Age ECI believe it was ready to make history by banning the use of cages in all animal farming. And yet, we’re still waiting. This makes a mockery of participatory democracy.

Five years of broken promises have condemned nearly 1.5 billion farmed animals to a life of suffering in cages and have eroded the trust citizens have in the EU. And the fact that the Commission has been refusing to meet with us for months raises serious concerns about transparency.

This must be the year Europe acts decisively: no more delays, no more cages.

On 30 June 2021, the Commission positively responded to the EtCA ECI and announced legislative proposals to ban cages by 2023, but failed to deliver them. This prompted the EtCA Citizens’ Committee to launch an ongoing landmark legal case before the Court of Justice of the EU to hold the Commission accountable.

An overwhelming 89% of EU citizens – around 400 million people – believe animals should not be farmed in individual cages. Yet, across Europe, nearly 300 million pigs, hens, rabbits, ducks, quail, and geese still spend most of their lives in cages every year. Animals kept in cages are often confined in barren environments, either overcrowded or completely lacking social contact, unable to turn around or express even the most basic behaviours.

EU under pressure as activists mark 5 years of broken promises