MEPs showed their support for an EU ban on caged animal farming by ‘freeing’ plush farmed animals from cages in an event we organised outside the European Parliament to mark World Cage Free Day (14 October)

The End the Cage Age coalition of 170 European NGOs invited MEPs to attend the thought-provoking event in Brussels featuring sixteen plush farmed animals trapped in cages in front of the European Parliament. Several MEPs ‘rescued’ the stuffed animals in a powerful display of support for the promised EU-wide ban on caged animal farming.

World Cage Free Day was founded in 2020 as a day to raise awareness of the miserable lives endured by around 300 farmed animals confined in cages, crates and pens across Europe every year. A day that we soon hope to celebrate knowing that this cruel and unnecessary practice is banned in the EU, once and for all.

European lawmakers are committed

Despite the rain, the event was well attended by European lawmakers, including MEP Thomas Waitz, MEP Martin Hojsik, MEP Anja Hazekamp, MEP Tilly Metz and MEP Sebastian Everding and attracted the attention of several passersby.

“No animal should be kept in cages. This is really from the last century. We should get over this, especially fur farming, just for clothes we can replace, but also in agriculture we need to be empathic with our animals,” said Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz. “So stop keeping animals in cages. Please, stop it now. Listen to citizens, listen to the End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative, take it seriously. Stop and end the cage age.”

Slovak MEP Martin Hojsík added: “Five years ago we called for the same, we were very close. And sadly, especially on cages, now the Commission faltered. It’s really about time that we end the cage age in Europe, because it’s simply not humane.”

Dutch MEP Anja Hazekamp said: “Animals have waited too long, so deliver the proposal. End the cage age.”

Now it’s time for the EU Commission to act

In response to the successful End the Cage Age ECI signed by 1.4 million EU citizens, in 2021 the EU Commission made an historic, legally-binding commitment to present legislative proposals to ban caged systems for farmed animals by the end of 2023, but has yet to deliver on its promise.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of the EU at Compassion in World Farming, said: “This event was a powerful symbolisation of the suffering of millions of farmed animals currently confined in cages, but it also highlights that the way forward is a cage-free Europe. In this new political term, we need the European Commission to deliver on its promise to ban cages at the earliest possible opportunity as well as the co-legislators to ensure the highest welfare standards for farmed animals.”

MEPs ‘free farmed animals’ to mark World Cage Free Day