European citizens’ initiative ‘End the Cage Age’ collects more than 1.5 million signatures
More than one and a half million people signed for the European citizens' initiative 'End the Cage Age'. MEP Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals, the Netherlands) celebrated this success with the organisers of the citizens’ initiative this week.
Party for the Animals MEP Anja Hazekamp about the citizens’ initiative "End the Cage Age".
"The signatures of all these people are a great support in the fight against the caging of animals on farms. Over 700 million animals are locked up in cages in Europe alone every year. These animals have no chance at all to develop normally or to exercise their natural behaviour. Cages are a symbol for what is wrong with our agricultural system. The Party for the Animals will do everything possible to have the European Commission and EU Member States comply with this citizens’ initiative," according to Hazekamp.
What will happen now?
All signatures are being checked now. Then there will be a public hearing in the European Parliament allowing the organisers to explain their citizens’ initiative. The European Commission will also attend the hearing. Based on the citizens’ initiative, the European Parliament can - through a motion - request a legislative proposal to put a stop to keeping animals in cages. The European Commission will then decide if it will actually come up with a legislative proposal.