Europeans demand end to battery cages as legislative deadline looms

The survey results arrive five years after 1.4 million citizens backed the 'End the Cage Age' initiative, a movement that secured support from the European Parliament but has since stalled in the legislative pipeline. While the farming lobby group Copa Cogeca has argued that a total phase-out could require 15 years, 52 percent of respondents believe the ban should have already been implemented. Support varies significantly by region: Austria leads the push with 65 percent favoring an immediate end to cages, while Bulgaria shows the lowest support at 33 percent.

Irish Renew MEP Barry Andrews and Austrian Greens MEP Thomas Waitz are now pressuring the Commission to act, arguing that the current indecision damages both animal welfare and the stability of the agricultural market. Currently, approximately 135.2 million hens—roughly 34.5 percent of the EU total—remain in cages. The European Commission has committed to tabling new legislation by the end of 2026, promising a transition that balances animal welfare standards with financial support for producers.