Edit“No Betrayals”: activists protest Commissioner Várhelyi over years of delays on animal welfare
The demonstration, organised by Animal Equality, focused on the Commission’s failure to deliver legislation phasing out cage farming
More than one hundred animal welfare campaigners gathered outside the European Commission’s DG SANTE headquarters yesterday to accuse Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi of repeatedly breaking promises on long-awaited EU animal welfare reforms.
The protest, organised by Animal Equality and the first in a series of actions targeting European institutions, focused on the Commission’s failure to deliver legislation phasing out cage farming – a commitment made nearly five years ago following the “End the Cage Age” European Citizens’ Initiative, which collected over 1.4 million signatures.
In 2021, the Commission pledged to introduce a proposal to end the use of cages for farm animals across the EU. The original target date of 2023 came and went with no action. Bans on cage rearing and the culling of male chicks were notably absent from the Commission’s 2026 work programme.
Demonstrators described the situation as a pattern of delays, broken commitments, and undue industry influence. Matteo Cupi, European Vice President of Animal Equality, said:
“Demonstrations are not stopping until we have proper legislation to ban cages and male chick culling. We demand a comprehensive review of European animal welfare legislation, with no further delays and exemptions. Commissioner Várhelyi and the European institutions must not again betray the citizens and animals who have been waiting years for these measures.”
Criticism of Várhelyi’s record
Várhelyi, who has faced criticism on multiple policy fronts during his tenure, has publicly stated that Europe “can and should move towards cage-free farming,” yet campaigners argue little concrete progress has followed. Animal Equality’s analysis of 708 public meetings recorded in the Commission’s transparency register over the past 15 months shows that Várhelyi and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen met almost exclusively with animal farming industry representatives, with minimal engagement from civil society or welfare organisations.
The group is now demanding that the Commission present a legislative proposal on the cage ban before the end of 2026.“It is unacceptable for Commissioner Várhelyi to publicly declare support for cage-free farming without lifting a finger to make this happen,” Cupi added. “In doing so, he is promoting rhetoric for its own sake, betraying millions of European citizens.”
The protests highlight growing public frustration with the slow pace of reform on an issue that once positioned the EU as a potential global leader in animal welfare. Whether the Commission responds with action before the end of the year remains to be seen. The development unfolds as the Commission remains overdue in responding to the “Fur Free Europe” European Citizens’ Initiative, which calls for a ban on fur farming and sales across the EU.
Caption: A scene from the protest, courtesy Animal Equality
Updated: May 21, 2026 - 13:42
