For organisations, advocates and anyone who cares about protecting, improving or simply generating awareness about animal welfare, the Irish Presidency represents a significant opportunity. Several important animal welfare initiatives are expected to progress during Ireland’s six-month term, placing the country in a strong position to shape discussions, build consensus among Member States and help guide negotiations on several long-awaited reforms that could improve the lives of millions of animals and keep animal welfare firmly on the European agenda.
Every Member State holds the Presidency on a rotating basis. While the Presidency cannot propose legislation or determine EU policy unilaterally, it is responsible for chairing Council meetings, coordinating negotiations between Member States and facilitating agreement with the European Parliament.(1) By setting agendas, managing discussions and steering legislative files through the Council, the Presidency can influence the pace of negotiations, shape political priorities and help advance key legislative proposals.
Animal welfare legislation has been identified as one of the European Commission’s priorities for reform over the coming years.(2) The drive to modernise the EU’s animal welfare framework is underpinned by growing scientific evidence and strong public support for higher welfare standards. From farmed animals kept in intensive systems to animals transported long distances across borders, many of the current rules and legislation remain largely unchanged for more than two decades despite significant advances in scientific understanding of animal welfare.
Public demand for reform has become increasingly difficult for EU institutions to ignore. Through a number of successful European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) such as End the Cage Age(3), Free Europe(4), and Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics(5), millions of Europeans have called on the European Commission to introduce stronger protection for animals. These campaigns demonstrate widespread public backing for stronger animal welfare protections and placing increased political pressure on the Commission to commit to meaningful legislative reform.
The Irish Presidency Programme
The Irish Presidency Programme (the “Programme”) is centred around three broad priorities: competitiveness, values and security. Alongside these overarching themes, the Programme commits to promoting sustainable farming and fishing, supporting environmental protection and biodiversity, strengthening food security, and ensuring that future agricultural policy is grounded in scientific and technical evidence.(7) It also places significant emphasis on agreeing the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, which aims to determine how EU funding is allocated across a range of policy areas, including agriculture and rural development.(8) Although animal welfare is not identified as a standalone priority, decisions taken in these areas will inevitably shape the future of animal protection. Agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and food policy all have direct consequences for how animals are bred, kept and transported throughout the European Union.
Eurogroup for Animals’ Priorities
Recognising the significance of Ireland’s Presidency, Eurogroup for Animals published a Memorandum for animal welfare to the Irish Presidency, urging the Government to use its position to accelerate long-awaited reforms.(9) Rather than allowing momentum to stall, the organisation argues that Ireland can help keep animal welfare at the forefront of Council discussions during this crucial period.
Reforming On-Farm Animal Welfare
Perhaps the most significant priority is the long-awaited revision of the EU’s on-farm animal welfare legislation. Existing rules governing the keeping of farmed animals are fragmented and outdated. Scientific opinions published by the European Food Safety Authority have recommended significant improvements in housing conditions, stocking densities and husbandry practices for several species.(10)
Eurogroup for Animals argues that the Irish Presidency should ensure that reform of the on-farm animal welfare legislation remains high on the Council’s agenda, while supporting the gradual phase-out of cages and other confinement systems through evidence-based legislation and appropriate transition periods for farmers.(11)
Improving Animal Transport Rules
Beyond on-farm welfare, the memorandum also highlights reform of the Regulation on the protection of animals during transport.(12)
Every year, millions of animals are transported across Europe, sometimes over vast distances and in challenging conditions.(13) Overcrowding, injury, dehydration and exposure to extreme temperatures remain persistent welfare concerns. Strengthening transport rules is therefore considered to be one of the most urgent areas of reform within the EU.
The memorandum encourages Ireland to support stronger transport standards while recognising geographical realities affecting Member States on the edge of Europe. It also proposes encouraging greater use of regional slaughterhouses and increasing meat and carcass trade instead of transporting live animals over long distances wherever feasible. (14)
Protecting Companion Animals
For millions of people across Europe, dogs and cats are not simply pets but cherished members of the family. Yet far too many continue to suffer as a result of irresponsible breeding, illegal trade and inconsistent welfare standards across the EU. Eurogroup for Animals therefore calls on the Government to support the proposed Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, helping to strengthen protections and improve enforcement across Member States.(15) It also encourages continued discussions on introducing an EU-wide Positive List of permitted pets, as well as greater cooperation on issues such as animal shelters. Together, these measures could help ensure that companion animals receive the protection they deserve while making it harder for ethical breeders to profit at their expense.
Funding Higher Animal Welfare Standards
Meaningful reform requires more than stronger legal obligations. Farmers must also have the financial support needed to transition towards higher welfare production systems. Investment in improved husbandry practices and lower stocking densities can help raise welfare standards while supporting the long-term sustainability of farms.
For this reason, the memorandum calls on Ireland to ensure that animal welfare is integrated into negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).(16) Dedicated funding could help farmers invest in improved housing systems, lower stocking densities and other welfare improvements while maintaining businesses.
This is particularly significant because one of Ireland’s major Presidency objectives is securing agreement on the EU’s next long-term budget. Decisions made during these negotiations could shape funding for animal welfare over the next decade.
Although Ireland’s Presidency lasts just six months, it has an important opportunity to shape the direction of EU animal welfare law by prioritising legislative files, facilitating negotiations and building consensus between Member States. With major reforms on farm animal welfare, live animal transport, companion animal protection and agricultural funding expected to progress during this period, Ireland is well placed to provide political leadership. As a major agricultural producer, it can also demonstrate that high animal welfare standards are compatible with sustainable farming, innovation and long-term food security, helping to lay the foundations for meaningful reform across the European Union.
(1) European Commission Representation in Ireland, “Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union” (European Commission Representation in Ireland) https://ireland.representation.ec.europa.eu/irelands-presidency-council-european-union_en accessed 14 July 2026.
(2) European Commission, ‘Animal Welfare’ https://commission.europa.eu/topics/animal-welfare_en accessed 15 July 2026.
(3) End the Cage Age, ‘End the Cage Age’ (End the Cage Age) https://www.endthecageage.eu/en/ accessed 15 July 2026.
(4) Eurogroup for Animals, ‘Fur Free Europe’ (Eurogroup for Animals) https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/fur-free-europe accessed 15 July 2026.
(5) European Citizens’ Initiative, ‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing’ (European Citizens’ Initiative) https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/save-cruelty-free-cosmetics-commit-europe-without-animal-testing_en accessed 15 July 2026.
(6) Council of the European Union, ‘Programme of the Irish Presidency’ (Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union) https://irish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme/programme-of-the-irish-presidency/ accessed 14 July 2026, 1.
(7) Ibid 55.
(8) Council of the European Union, ‘Programme of the Irish Presidency’ (Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union) https://irish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme/programme-of-the-irish-presidency/ accessed 14 July 2026.
(9) Eurogroup for Animals, ‘Memorandum on Animal Welfare for the Irish Presidency 2026’ (Eurogroup for Animals) https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/library/memorandum-animal-welfare-irish-presidency-2026 accessed 14 July 2026, 2.
(10) European Commission, ‘End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative’ (European Commission – Food Safety) https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-welfare/eci/eci-end-cage-age_en accessed 15 July 2026.
(11) Eurogroup for Animals (n 10), 3.
(12) Ibid 5.
(13) Eurogroup for Animals, ‘Live Animal Transport’ (Eurogroup for Animals) https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/what-we-do/areas-of-concern/live-animal-transport accessed 20 July 2026.
(14) Ibid.
(15) Ibid 6.
(16) Ibid 8.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Council of the European Union, ‘Programme of the Irish Presidency’ (Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union) https://irish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme/programme-of-the-irish-presidency/ accessed 14 July 2026.
End the Cage Age, ‘End the Cage Age’ (End the Cage Age) https://www.endthecageage.eu/en/ accessed 15 July 2026.
European Citizens’ Initiative, ‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing’ (European Citizens’ Initiative) https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/save-cruelty-free-cosmetics-commit-europe-without-animal-testing_en accessed 15 July 2026.
European Commission, ‘End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative’ (European Commission – Food Safety) https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-welfare/eci/eci-end-cage-age_en accessed 15 July 2026.
European Commission Representation in Ireland, “Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union” (European Commission Representation in Ireland) https://ireland.representation.ec.europa.eu/irelands-presidency-council-european-union_en accessed 14 July 2026.
Eurogroup for Animals, ‘Fur Free Europe’ (Eurogroup for Animals) https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/fur-free-europe accessed 15 July 2026.
Eurogroup for Animals, ‘Live Animal Transport’ (Eurogroup for Animals) https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/what-we-do/areas-of-concern/live-animal-transport accessed 20 July 2026.
Eurogroup for Animals, Memorandum on Animal Welfare for the Irish Presidency 2026 https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/library/memorandum-animal-welfare-irish-presidency-2026 accessed 14 July 2026.
