The European Commission has presented its work program for the coming year. According to the list released last week, the Brussels-based authority does not foresee a particularly high number of new legislative proposals in the agricultural, environmental and food sectors.
During the opening of the consultation on these issues —which will run until December 12— the Commission announced that the corresponding legislative proposals are scheduled to be presented in the fourth quarter of 2026. In the second quarter, a strategy for the preservation of livestock farming in the EU is expected to be unveiled. This strategy will also address aspects related to animal welfare and protection. In addition, the EU Animal Health Regulation will be reviewed in the second quarter.
The European Commission had initially planned to present a comprehensive legislative package for more harmonized standards as early as the third quarter of 2023. Previously, then EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides had pledged, among other measures, to ban the use of cages throughout the EU. A few months later, only a proposal to amend the Animal Transport Regulation was presented. Progress in this area remains limited. The European Parliament and the Council have still failed to reach an agreement on a common position to begin trilogue negotiations with the European Commission.
Source: Eurocarne
