European Union appoints first-ever Commissioner to defend animals
- The EU has introduced a new role focused on animal welfare, with Hungarian politician Olivér Várhelyi nominated as Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.
- This role was created in response to public demand for stronger animal protections across Europe.
- For the first time, animal protection will no longer fall under the Agriculture department but under Health, marking a significant shift in policy.
- Still, doubts remain about Várhelyi’s suitability for the role.
- The position was established after years of advocacy through the #EUforAnimals campaign.
- In the US, deregulation has weakened protections for farmed animals, with legislation increasingly favoring factory farming.
- The EU’s new role could serve as an example and inspire stronger animal protection efforts in the US.
For the first time in European Union (EU) history, a new role will focus entirely on animal protection. Hungarian politician Olivér Várhelyi has been nominated as the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, pending approval by the European Parliament. This decision comes in response to increasing public demand for stronger animal protections across Europe.
However, concerns have emerged regarding Várhelyi’s suitability for the role, as his background in animal protection appears limited. Advocates note that the ideal Commissioner must be knowledgeable and committed to prioritizing animals over industry interests.
A turning point for animals in Europe
This new role marks a significant change in EU policy. Since 1974, the EU has made strides for animals, such as banning battery cages for hens and limiting the use of cages for pregnant pigs. However, recent progress has stalled due to pressure from the factory farming industry, which prioritizes profit over animals.
By placing animal protection under the Commissioner for Health—rather than Agriculture—the EU is sending a message that animal protection is an urgent issue in its own right, not just an agricultural concern. This shift offers hope for policies that will prioritize animals’ well-being over profits.
Animal Equality believes this role could lead to long-overdue updates to animal protection laws across Europe. However, concerns about Várhelyi’s qualifications cast doubt on how effectively this role will be executed.
A campaign years in the making
This new role is the result of years of campaigning by animal protection groups across Europe. In 2021, the Belgian organization GAIA–supported by Animal Equality and more than 60 other groups–launched the #EUforAnimals campaign.
The campaign called for the creation of a Commissioner for Animal Welfare and gathered 310,000 signatures from citizens across Europe. It also gained the support from over 200 Members of the European Parliament.
In October 2023, the petition was officially presented to the European Parliament and the European Commission. The public support for stronger animal protections is clear—according to a Eurobarometer survey, 84% of Europeans believe farmed animals need stronger protections.
We hope this new role brings a stronger focus on animal protection by linking it to public health, not agriculture’s interests. However, Olivér Várhelyi’s suitability is in question. The Commissioner must have expertise in animal protection. If Várhelyi–or any nominee–cannot demonstrate that, they should not hold the role.
— Matteo Cupi, Animal Equality’s Vice President for Europe
Why this matters for the US
Animal Equality’s investigations have exposed factory farming cruelty across the globe–including in both the EU and the US.
In the US, there has been a concerning trend toward deregulation, with laws increasingly favoring the factory farming industry over animals. Protections for farmed animals remain minimal, and enforcement is weak.
One current threat has made its way into this year’s Farm Bill, which could eliminate state laws that protect farmed animals from extreme confinement. If passed, this legislation would undo progress made in states like California and Massachusetts, putting millions of animals at risk.
The creation of a dedicated Commissioner for Animal Welfare in Europe could inspire the US to take animal protection more seriously. This new role could lead to stricter oversight of factory farms and better enforcement across Europe’s 27 member countries, offering a model that the US might follow.
A lasting solution
While new regulations can help reduce some of the worst abuses, the animal farming industry is, at its core, based on exploitation. As long as animals are treated as products, cruelty will continue.
The only lasting solution is to move away from animal products altogether. Choosing plant-based foods offers a path forward—one that eliminates the cruelty of factory farming while benefiting the environment and public health.
By opting for plant-based alternatives, consumers can help reduce animal suffering and support a more compassionate and sustainable food system.
SAVE ANIMALS FROM ABUSE
Pigs, cows, and other animals feel pain and deserve to be protected from abuse.
You can protect these intelligent animals by simply choosing plant‑based alternatives.
