This week (6 May), with Eurogroup for Animals, we brought together policymakers, farmers, and experts in the European Parliament to focus on one of the biggest challenges to ending the cage age - how to fund the transition.

The message was clear: a cage-free future is possible, but farmers must be given financial support to get there.

Farmers of the Future

At the event, Farmers of the Future: Financing the cage-free transition, Animal Welfare Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi opened by noting that the call for cage-free farming was loud and clear. He said "we can, and should" transition, and it was important to get the transition right for everyone.

He stressed the importance of financial support for farmers and ambitious proposals to modernise animal welfare legislation, which should also apply to imported products. The Commissioner confirmed that the work on such legislative proposals, which are expected by the end of the year, is still ongoing.

The event was hosted by MEPs from across political parties including Veronika Vrecionová , Chair of AGRI Committee, Maria Noichl, Krzysztof Śmiszek, Martin Hojsík, and Tilly Metz, and included the launch of a new report: Financing the transition to cage-free farming in the EU, by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP).

The report looked at examples from four European countries and identified gaps in funding, with recommendations on how governments can support farmers move away from cages.

The report found that:

transitioning away from cages is possible with the right financial tools
existing EU and national funding needs to specifically target the transition away from cages for it to happen at scale
uncertainty around EU legislation has been a barrier for farmers transitioning away from cages.

The EU must act

Despite a promise from the European Commission to phase out cages in 2021, legislative proposals have still not been introduced. As a result, 300 million animals are still in cages in the EU every year.

At the same time, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) continues to allow public money to be invested in caged systems, locking farmers into outdated models which prevent them from transitioning.

Farmers and policymakers united

A key message from the event, was that farmers are willing to transition, but they cannot do it alone.

Taru Antikainen, pig producer, Krookantila Oy Farm, explained:

Farmers are willing to invest in higher welfare, but willingness alone is not enough. The cage-free transition requires real financial tools… and a stable policy framework that makes long-term planning possible.

Speaking at the event, MEP Krzysztof Śmiszek said:

We have heard it from farmers today: cage-free farming at scale is possible but needs a level playing field and financial support. That's why the Commission should swiftly deliver its proposals and a timeline to phase out cages for all farmed animals. MEPs together with Member States must ensure CAP support for farmers transitioning away from cages.

What happens next?

To make a cage-free future a reality, we’re calling on EU decision makers to deliver on their overdue promise to introduce legislative proposals to ban cages for all species and make sure that farmers have the financial support needed to transition.

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

1.4 million people signed the ECI to End the Cage Age, and public support has continued to grow.

Society demands an end to cages, but market alone cannot finance it and that’s why we need public finance for public good.

The IEEP report and the event this week have shown us that it is possible. We now need to political will and targeted funding to make it happen.

A pathway to fund a cage-free future