Luckily, in 1997 there was a change of government in the UK and the new Animal Welfare Minister took up our case. Just six weeks later all the Prime Ministers of the EU met in Amsterdam to refresh the Treaty. Campaigners from all over Europe joined us outside their meeting to reinforce our message, peacefully of course. To our delight, the PMs agreed to recognise animals as sentient beings in the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Animals are sentient beings

Eleven years later this recognition became an Article in the Treaty of Lisbon, giving it firm and lasting status. The article states:

“In formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the EU countries relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage.”

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) - Article 13 of Title II

Since then, other countries, like New Zealand, and some cities and states have followed suit.

In 2005, Compassion held a major conference on animal sentience, with 600 attendees from 50 countries.

Today, we continue campaigning and lobbying on animal sentience. For example, we are working closely with the UK government on the new Animal Sentience Bill and we are lobbying the United Nations (UN) to give global recognition to animal sentience.