Animal Action Greece has written to the 21 Members of the European Parliament that represent Greece urging them to support the long awaited revision to the EU’s animal welfare legislation in the work programme for 2024.

“Despite promising to publish a revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation this year we are fast approaching the the end of the year with no sign of this desperately needed update,” said Chief Executive, Joseph Nhan O’Reilly. 

“Unless the EU commits to deliver its promise in the 2024 work programme the lives of billions of animals, and the wishes of millions of European citizens will be ignored.”  

Οn September 13th EC President van der Leyen held her annual State of the Union speech outlining what this Commission has achieved and what it will still do before the end of term in 2024.  

Animal welfare organisations across Europe were disappointed that the animal welfare legislation was not included in the 2024 letter of intent.  

Members of the European Parliament have an important opportunity to stand up for animals and we have written to Greek MEPs urging them to press the Conference of Committee Chairs and the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission to ensure the animal welfare reforms are included in the 2024 workplan. 

The vast majority of Greek citizens deeply care about animal welfare, as reflected in several opinion polls. Animal welfare was a subject of the Conference on the Future of Europe and has been among the most frequent items of concern of European Citizens’ Initiatives. It would be unacceptable to disregard and ignore EU citizens’ expectations.