As the consultation on how to shape the next long-term EU budget closes, Compassion in World Farming is urging the European Commission to ensure it maintains a strong budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to support farmers to transition to regenerative farming practices with the highest animal welfare and sustainability standards.

It coincides with the adoption in the European Parliament of a non-binding INI report on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which calls on the Commission to continue supporting the resilience of the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, while helping these sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity.

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

Europeans don't want an agrifood policy that subsidises animal cruelty or destroys our planet. Taxpayers’ money should finance the transition away from factory farming and towards regenerative practices with the highest animal welfare, environmental and social standards, such as cage-free systems. For that, the next MFF must maintain a robust budget for the CAP to fulfil citizens’ expectations for higher animal welfare and support farmers in this transition.

Europeans expect higher animal welfare standards, as shown by the overwhelming 84% of EU citizens who believe that the welfare of farmed animals should be better protected in their country, and the 1.4 million people who supported the End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative in 2021.

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Notes to Editors

Our latest briefing on the next MFF can be accessed here.

Next MFF must ensure strong CAP budget to support farmers away from factory farming, urges animal welfare NGO