On how to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases?

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on how to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases?

(2025/2053(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 38 and 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which establish the common agricultural policy (CAP) and its objectives,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (EU) No 251/2014 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products and (EU) No 228/2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1468 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116 as regards good agricultural and environmental condition standards, schemes for climate, environment and animal welfare, amendment of the CAP Strategic Plans, review of the CAP Strategic Plans and exemptions from controls and penalties,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 19 February 2025 entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food – Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations’ (COM(2025)0075),

– having regard to the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture entitled ‘A shared prospect for farming and food in Europe’, published on 4 September 2024,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’),

– having regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002 of 7 December 2020 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to Union notification and Union reporting of listed diseases, to formats and procedures for submission and reporting of Union surveillance programmes and of eradication programmes and for application for recognition of disease-free status, and to the computerised information system,

– having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for surveillance, eradication programmes, and disease-free status for certain listed and emerging diseases,

– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation),

– having regard to Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC,

– having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases,

– having regard to Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97, and Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/6 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on veterinary medicinal products and repealing Directive 2001/82/EC,

– having regard to the Council recommendation of 13 June 2023 on stepping up EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach (2023/C 220/01),

– having regard to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1729 of 17 November 2020 on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria and repealing Implementing Decision 2013/652/EU,

– having regard to the Commission notice entitled ‘Guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine’ (2015/C 299/04), published on 11 September 2015,

– having regard to the recommendations of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, following the Ministerial Conference on animal diseases held on 24 January 2024, which state that biosecurity and vaccination should become the pillars of alternative strategies to mass slaughter in the management of infectious epidemics on farms,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 15 November 2011 entitled ‘Action plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance’ (COM(2011)0748),

– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97,

– having regard to its resolution of 19 October 2023 on generational renewal in the EU farms of the future,

– having regard to its resolution of 14 June 2023 on ensuring food security and long-term resilience of the EU agriculture,

– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2022 on a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas – Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040,

– having regard to its resolution of 24 November 2022 on the protection of livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe,

– having regard to its resolution of 16 February 2022 on the implementation report on on-farm animal welfare,

– having regard to its recommendation of 20 January 2022 to the Council and the Commission following the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the protection of animals during transport within and outside the Union,

– having regard to the final report of its Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport within and outside the Union of 14 December 2021 on the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the protection of animals during transport within and outside the Union,

– having regard to its resolution of 10 February 2021 on the New Circular Economy Action Plan,

– having regard to its resolution of 3 October 2023 entitled ‘European protein strategy’,

– having regard to the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), as established in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code,

– having regard to the 2023 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report entitled ‘Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes – An evidence and policy overview on the state of knowledge and gaps’,

– having regard to WOAH Resolution No 29 entitled ‘Veterinary Vaccines and Vaccination: from science to action – reflections for change’, adopted in May 2025,

– having regard to the information report of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) entitled ‘Benefits of extensive livestock farming and organic fertilizers in the context of the European Green Deal’, adopted on 8 December 2021,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A10-0088/2026),

A. whereas the livestock sector has long been an essential pillar of EU agriculture, especially in rural areas, and contributes significantly and uniquely to a substantial share of the EU’s economy; whereas the value of livestock production and products amounted to EUR 214.3 billion in 2023, representing 40 % of the EU’s total agricultural output that year, and whereas the profitability and sustainability of plant production is dependent on resilient animal production;

B. whereas the animal agriculture value chain is long and complex, involving many actors – from the breeding, feed and animal health sectors to farmers and the processing industry linked to animal production (milk and meat processing, animal feed and animal by-products) – and is of key importance in the EU in terms of innovation, turnover and employment;

C. whereas fair prices for animal products and regional value chains can safeguard farmers’ incomes; whereas the animal production agricultural value chain involves a wide range of actors, from pre-harvest sectors such as breeding, feed and animal health to farmers and the post-harvest food processing industry, and is a key value chain in the EU in terms of turnover and employment, given the presence of constant human involvement in the production process, contributing significantly to the EU’s food security and sovereignty and protein autonomy;

D. whereas local slaughterhouse structures can make a significant contribution to regional added value, shorten supply chains and reduce emissions stemming from the transport of meat products, as regional slaughterhouses can better meet the specific market requirements of individual regions and promote demand-driven production;

E. whereas livestock farming is of crucial importance for many European regions, most of which are at risk of depopulation; whereas 58 % of European farms keep animals; whereas mixed and specialised livestock farms account for 40.9 % of European farms, and European livestock farms employ around four million people (salaried and non-salaried); whereas over the past 20 years, the EU lost 37 % of its farmers, and farmers’ income decreased by 12 % per hectare;

F. whereas in many regions of the EU, such as mountainous, inland and rural areas and several outermost regions, livestock production is the only viable economic activity and plays a fundamental role in retaining populations, maintaining biodiversity, preserving traditional landscapes and driving other local economic activities; whereas the financial allocations for the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) must be adjusted to take account of devaluation caused by inflation in order to fulfil its role of supporting farmers and livestock breeders in the outermost regions;

G. whereas the entire livestock sector provides climate and environmental benefits by sequestering carbon, regulating water flows and improving water quality, protecting biodiversity, preventing forest fires, retaining populations in rural areas and maintaining diversified and open landscapes, particularly in disadvantaged and mountainous areas;

H. whereas monogastric species, such as swine and poultry, produce lower greenhouse gas emissions because of their efficient feed conversion rates, and can further contribute to circularity through the use of waste stream products in their feed, while their manure serves as a natural fertiliser for crop production; whereas the climate efficiency of several European livestock production models, in terms of genetics, technology, innovation and knowledge, is of crucial importance for worldwide production and the sustainability thereof;

I. whereas the EU is the world’s second-largest producer of meat, behind China but ahead of the United States, and EU livestock systems contribute significantly to the EU economy, trade and related jobs and uphold world-leading standards in animal welfare, efficiency and sustainability;

J. whereas pig meat and poultry meat account for a significant share of the meat produced in the EU, which plays a key role in ensuring food security, offering affordable products to European consumers and sustaining the livelihoods of many farmers; whereas enhancing the sustainability of conventional systems will enable major improvements in sustainability, which will benefit a broad consumer base, including consumers with lower incomes, ensuring that animal protein remains affordable and accessible to all EU citizens;

K. whereas in 2023, the EU had 133 million pigs, 74 million bovine animals, 58 million sheep, 11 million goats and an estimated 1.63 billion poultry birds;

L. whereas the EU produced 40.7 million tonnes of meat in 2023, comprised of pig meat (50 %), poultry meat (32 %), beef meat (15 %) and sheep and goat meat (1 %);

M. whereas the EU is the world’s largest producer of cow’s milk, accounting for over 20 % of global milk supply, and holds a leading position in international dairy trade, representing more than 30 % of global dairy exports;

N. whereas EU net exports of animal products have risen more than threefold since 2000 and reached EUR 37.8 billion in 2024 (excluding intra-community trade) in a context where global demand for meat, dairy products and eggs is expected to increase by 25 to 50 % by 2050, according to the latest FAO scenarios;

O. whereas in 2023, the EU imported nearly 900 000 tonnes of poultry meat, more than 340 000 tonnes of beef meat and around 150 000 tonnes of sheep meat;

P. whereas products of animal origin with geographical indications (GIs) account for nearly 20 % of all EU GIs and represent significant added value for rural economies, reflecting not only their economic importance, but also the cultural value of the EU’s food heritage;

Q. whereas non-price competitiveness, including high standards linked to product safety, traceability and quality, is a key feature of EU livestock production, but incurs higher production costs and product prices compared to the EU’s trading partners; whereas maintaining these high EU environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards affects the international competitiveness of the EU livestock production sector and therefore requires particular attention during the negotiation and conclusion of trade agreements;

R. whereas livestock farmers face a legislative burden, as compliance entails costs, and constant legislative changes generate uncertainty when it comes to making costly investments; whereas a stable legislative framework is an essential guarantee for European farmers in their efforts to plan ahead and to maintain and increase their production potential;

S. whereas the EU’s agricultural promotion policy plays a key role in increasing the visibility and competitiveness of high-quality European agri-food products, including animal products, both on the internal market and internationally; whereas this policy, and the exports to key markets it supports, is an important driver for improving farmers’ revenues and enabling them to further invest in the modernisation of their farms;

T. whereas the number of farm animals, the sizes of farms and herds, the degree of sectoral specialisation, and the intensity of production measured by the number of livestock units per hectare and the proportion of grassland in the utilised agricultural area (UAA) vary greatly from one Member State to another and, within Member States, from one region to another;

U. whereas livestock farming, especially on small and medium-sized farms, is currently facing several economic, environmental and social challenges;

V. whereas livestock populations have declined over the past decade, with Eurostat statistics showing a decline, over the period 2014-2024, of 8.1 % for pigs, 8.7 % for bovine animals, especially over the past four years, 9.4 % for sheep and 16.3 % for goats; whereas the only exception is in the poultry sector, where populations have increased;

W. whereas in its Vision for Agriculture and Food, the Commission underlines the need for a long-term vision for the livestock production sector and has launched a workstream on livestock that explores policy pathways for a competitive and sustainable EU livestock sector;

X. whereas animal products, when consumed in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines, contribute to a balanced and nutritious diet by providing a stable source of essential nutrients, such as high-quality proteins, vitamins and minerals;

Y. whereas over the next 30 years, global animal protein consumption is expected to grow, which, combined with an increase in the world’s population, will result in a significant rise in demand levels; whereas EU livestock production, as an essential source of high-quality, locally produced protein, should be recognised as a strategic pillar for strengthening the EU’s protein sovereignty and for contributing to economic resilience, strategic autonomy and social responsibility;

Z. whereas it is essential that the EU, which is among the most efficient producers of animal protein in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, preserves its ability to produce animal protein sustainably, as a decline in domestic production or a production shift to regions with less efficient systems would likely lead to higher global greenhouse gas emissions;

AA. whereas, according to the Commission, the EU is only 75 % self-sufficient in crude protein sources and remains dependent on imports for more than 70 % of its vegetable protein needs, such as soybean meal and other oilseed products, which leaves the European farming sector exposed to significant vulnerabilities, including geopolitical instability, trade restrictions and disturbances in the supply chain;

AB. whereas the number of livestock farmers in the EU is decreasing rapidly as a result of economic difficulties, especially linked to limited profitability, as well as the sector’s lack of attractiveness, the challenges posed by the spread of vector-borne and other animal diseases and a major lack of generational renewal; whereas the EU faces a critical shortage of veterinarians specialised in farm animals; whereas the abandonment of livestock production by farmers is also often linked to the concentration of production on large farms and pressure from neighbours not involved in the agricultural sector, including protests about the ‘nuisances’ inherent to livestock and agricultural production, such as odours, noise and dust;

AC. whereas, in this context, it is essential to improve the sector’s attractiveness through income support, streamlined bureaucracy, targeted incentives and improved living conditions in rural areas in order to ensure that livestock farming is viable and helps guarantee the EU’s territorial cohesion;

AD. whereas one of the main challenges facing the European livestock sector is the lack of inclusion of young people and new farmers, as well as labour shortages; whereas it is therefore necessary to facilitate the establishment and takeover of farms by offering targeted start-up support, while combating over-indebtedness among livestock farmers; whereas the income generated by farming is not enough to attract skilled labour to the sector;

AE. whereas more women are working in the EU livestock sector than ever before, and their active participation should be supported and promoted and their contributions better recognised;

AF. whereas agri-food cooperatives are enterprises established by livestock farmers who decide to join forces to market their products together, make joint investments that generate greater value for members and offer services and financing that would be very difficult to obtain otherwise;

AG. whereas the share of direct payments and total subsidies, including investment support, amounts to a considerable part of net farm income for livestock and mixed farming, underlining its essential role; whereas CAP support is not enough to halt the fall in production and the number of farmers and to attract young people into livestock farming, and that it is therefore important to complement farmers’ income deriving from both the market and public support through diversification, such as agritourism, and risk management tools in order to increase their competitiveness, profitability and long-term resilience;

AH. whereas, while price remains the main deciding factor in purchasing decisions, sustainability and health concerns are expected to play a more prominent role, and this will shape production models and consumption patterns for meat and dairy products in the EU;

AI. whereas animal welfare is key to the future of livestock farming, which must evolve to improve farm animals’ living conditions; whereas consumer expectations regarding animal welfare and a change in attitude towards close-confinement housing systems should provide incentives to increase the investments needed to provide animals with better environmental conditions, provided that any additional requirements are based on scientific evidence and go hand in hand with proper remuneration for the extra costs incurred and suitable economic incentives;

AJ. whereas the EU has the most ambitious animal welfare standards in the world, reflecting its commitment to more ethical and sustainable production; whereas the concept of animal welfare should be interpreted and applied in a manner adapted to the real circumstances of production systems and to the agro-climatic, socio-economic and territorial conditions of Member States and regions, which can vary greatly;

AK. whereas demands to mitigate livestock farming’s impact on the environment, especially greenhouse gas emissions, to enhance animal welfare and to shift towards less intensive production should not lead to a reduction in food production and should ensure stable production levels and a good income for farmers, since the expected global increase in animal protein consumption represents an opportunity for the EU to position itself as a global leader in climate- and animal-friendly agriculture by exporting knowledge, technologies and best practice to partner countries;

AL. whereas the farming of livestock, primarily of ruminants, is the only viable way of utilising certain agricultural land, especially permanent grassland, for food production and increasing food security; whereas the EU’s transition to sustainable agricultural models will drive research, innovation, investment and employment both within and beyond the EU;

AM. whereas it is very important to better integrate the circular economy into the emerging bioeconomy, optimising the use of raw materials and secondary products to generate by-products and harness renewable energy sources, such as biogas, and reinforcing the EU’s energy autonomy; whereas these measures, which should not lead to an increased administrative burden for farms, will generate additional income sources for farmers and create new job opportunities;

AN. whereas livestock farming is an essential component of the circular economy, serving Europe’s food security and its energy and ecological transitions; whereas European livestock systems, which are heavily dependent on imports of fertilisers and forage from non-EU countries, need to benefit from incentives enabling them, without compromising the primary aim of meat production, to provide a complementary range of products and services that provide additional income to farmers, including renewable energy production, such as biogas and biomethane, valuable and organic fertilisers, livestock ecosystem services and commodities for the broader industry, in line with the EU’s bioeconomy strategy;

AO. whereas the diversity of European farming systems is a strategic asset and offers huge potential for the EU’s energy and ecological transitions; whereas livestock farming can play a key role in achieving the EU’s climate targets and the decarbonisation of the European energy mix, particularly through the use of livestock effluents;

AP. whereas the manure produced by livestock farms contributes to soil fertility by providing organic matter and essential nutrients, and can also be converted into biogas via methanisation facilities, including at farm level, replacing and reducing dependency on fossil energy sources and reducing the EU’s reliance on fertilisers imported from non-EU countries; whereas, beyond renewable energy production, the methanisation process also produces digestate, a by-product used by farmers as a natural fertiliser, and can be converted into RENURE products, both of which promote a circular economy in the livestock sector;

AQ. whereas changing consumption patterns, in a context of a difficult market situation, make it necessary to act swiftly to secure protection at EU level for names used to designate food of animal origin;

AR. whereas in many parts of Europe, certain large predators, particularly wolves and bears, are expanding their territory or recolonising areas, which brings them into conflict with human activities, especially extensive sheep and cattle grazing; whereas pastoralists and other livestock farmers bear significant costs as a result of predation on their herds, such as costs for preventive measures, the replacement of lost animals, additional veterinary care and losses resulting from abortions; whereas there is a great disparity between Member States and regions in terms of measures to support farmers – with such measures being entirely absent in some cases – and the public funds made available for compensation and adaptation;

AS. whereas animal diseases, and in particular transmissible diseases and those transmissible to humans (‘zoonoses’), can cause serious social, economic and environmental damage and, in some cases, threaten human health;

AT. whereas all strands of the production chain converge in a slaughterhouse, and regional slaughterhouse structures can therefore make a positive contribution to traceability, disease prevention and animal welfare; whereas it is therefore necessary, through the CAP and other funds, to support the establishment and development of slaughterhouses to stimulate the local economy, create jobs and strengthen short supply chains;

AU. whereas climate change is likely to influence the emergence of new animal diseases and the prevalence of existing diseases and their geographical distribution, in particular for vector-borne diseases such as bluetongue and West Nile virus, highlighting the need for anticipatory veterinary strategies; whereas this situation is exacerbated by the shortage of livestock veterinarians, which has implications for preventative veterinary care, early detection and the rapid control of diseases;

AV. whereas the vulnerability of farm systems in the EU has been highlighted by recent animal disease outbreaks and the increased incidence of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis, African swine fever, lumpy skin disease, blue tongue, avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, epizootic haemorrhagic disease and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, combined with the decrease in the number of veterinarians specialised in farm animals, without whom it will be impossible to combat animal diseases and guarantee animal welfare; whereas this vulnerability has manifested itself in devastating impacts on production levels, with consequences for farmers’ mental health due to stress, anxiety and emotional strain;

AW. whereas the prevention of animal diseases through vaccination, where available, is in some cases essential to avoid drastic yet unavoidable control measures such as mass culling; whereas funding for measures to prevent, control and eradicate certain animal diseases under the single market programme is insufficient to help farmers and the Member States in managing new animal diseases;

AX. whereas the threats posed by animal diseases are of major importance for the international trade in EU animals and animal products and make it necessary for the EU’s trading partners to recognise the EU’s system of regionalisation, established in line with WOAH standards and World Trade Organization (WTO) principles to control diseases and/or maintain safe trade by restricting trade from areas affected by disease, while avoiding unnecessary obstacles and trade disruptions in goods from unaffected areas;

AY. whereas, despite being an effective tool to prevent the spread of animal diseases, vaccination has been used as a tool to restrict trade between EU Member States and non-EU countries rather than to facilitate it;

AZ. whereas the EU’s holistic approach to the control of animal diseases is made up of several components, namely the specific control measures in place for the surveillance of each disease, the EU’s financial contribution, the notification system, the EU’s emergency team, the traceability system and the EU reference laboratories for selected diseases;

BA. whereas antimicrobial resistance, a One Health issue encompassing human health, animal health, plant health and the environment, is one of the top three priority health threats identified by the Commission in July 2022, and has a major socio-economic impact on the agricultural sector, as it leads to increased morbidity and mortality in animals and endangers animal health and welfare and, in turn, animal productivity; whereas the CAP and other EU programmes should support the improvement of biosecurity on livestock farms, the promotion of preventive vaccination, training and technical support for farmers, and research into, and the development of, effective and affordable alternatives to the use of antimicrobials in farmed animals;

BB. whereas the first Annual Surveillance Report on the European sales and use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine (ESUAvet 2023) indicates that the target of a 50 % reduction in antimicrobial sales by 2030 was already around halfway to being achieved by 2023, but warns that these positive developments could be undermined by a rise in animal diseases and the absence of a coordinated EU approach to vaccination, early monitoring, biosecurity and overall disease prevention and preparedness;

BC. whereas the EU Animal Health Law establishes a legal framework to harmonise rules across the sector applying to intra-EU trade, the entry into the EU of animals and products, disease eradication, veterinary controls, notification of diseases, and financial support in relation to different animal species;

BD. whereas existing legislation on transmissible animal diseases includes a comprehensive set of provisions concerning surveillance, eradication programmes and disease-free status, and requires Member States to establish and maintain an up-to-date list of their territories or zones with disease-free status, and of their regions with disease-free status, in accordance with existing legislation on veterinary medicinal products, which allows for the authorisation of vaccines and other animal health products; whereas this legislation forms the core of EU animal disease prevention and management;

BE. whereas preventive and control measures for each animal disease should be tailored to its epidemiological profile, its consequences and its geographical distribution within the EU;

BF. whereas early detection and a clear chain of disease notification and reporting are crucial for effective control; whereas Member States should ensure that the competent authority is immediately notified of any suspicion or confirmation of an outbreak;

BG. whereas it is of crucial importance to ensure uniform conditions for EU disease notification and reporting to maintain a level playing field between Member States and avoid the distortion of competition; whereas the Commission is empowered to establish a list of diseases that are subject to EU notification and reporting, as well as the necessary procedures and format for disease notification and reporting through the Animal Disease Information System (ADIS);

BH. whereas the number of large carnivores in continental Europe in 2012 was estimated at 9 000 Eurasian lynxes, 17 000 brown bears, 1 250 wolverines and 12 000 wolves; whereas there is no uniform, up-to-date EU estimate of large carnivore numbers;

General remarks

1. Welcomes and supports the Commission’s initiative, in its Vision for Agriculture and Food, to set up a workstream on livestock aimed at identifying and developing appropriate policy pathways to support livestock farming and enhance its competitiveness through targeted and territorial solutions rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy, while taking into account climate, nature and animal protection aspects, in addition to food security, resilience and animal disease management; underlines that the diversity of livestock production, the needs of species and the disparities between local conditions require solutions tailored to a national, regional or sub-regional scale; calls on the Commission to take specific measures in respect of livestock rearing in mountainous, remote and disadvantaged areas;

2. Expresses its concern over initiatives or legislative proposals that, through direct or indirect measures, act as a disincentive to livestock farming; insists that the livestock sector should not be brought under a regulatory regime designed for heavy industries;

3. Calls on the Commission, building on the work of the EU livestock workstream, to establish a high-level group on livestock, modelled on the high-level group on wine policy, involving all relevant stakeholders, including farmers, Member State representatives from the livestock sector, academia and the veterinary profession, representative associations and relevant animal health organisations, industry representatives, and representatives from local authorities; points out that the composition of this group should reflect the plurality of EU territories by providing balanced representation of different regional circumstances, including areas with high livestock densities;

4. Believes that by bringing Member States and stakeholders together, this high-level group should reflect on the challenges faced by the livestock sector and provide concrete and social solutions, based particularly on research conducted in this field; calls for an open and constructive dialogue among all stakeholders to encourage collaboration, develop practical solutions, and ensure fact-based communication on livestock farming; believes that these solutions should address, in particular, the relocation of production outside of Europe, generational renewal and the promotion of investments to foster the competitiveness of livestock farming;

5. Stresses that the specific challenges affecting the livestock sector require a coordinated, multidimensional policy response that, while avoiding trade-offs between these challenges, fully reflects the economic, environmental and social importance of livestock farming within the EU and its rural areas; believes, furthermore, that this policy response should also reflect the sector’s contribution to rural cohesion, food security, sustainable land management, animal welfare and the supply of animal protein on the EU market;

6. Calls on the Commission to provide a stable and predictable framework for farmers by limiting unnecessary regulatory burdens and simplifying livestock rules, especially for small-scale and family farms, thereby facilitating operations and supporting the sector’s development; stresses the need to assess the cumulative impact of EU legislation and to prevent legal uncertainty and administrative burdens caused by EU law and national gold-plating;

7. Points out that improving the social, economic and environmental sustainability of livestock farming depends on a long-term vision addressing a broad and interconnected range of factors, including price and non-price competitiveness, the capacity to adapt to climate change and related extreme weather events, and animal diseases; believes that other highly relevant factors include nutrient pollution, the development and provision of remunerated ecosystem services, targeted investment support, the promotion of animal welfare, innovation and digitalisation incentives, as well as generational renewal, access to support and advisory services and improvement of living and working conditions for livestock producers;

8. Stresses that farmers have the greatest interest in ensuring the good health and welfare of their animals, as doing so is both an ethical and economic imperative; underlines that animal welfare on farms is also linked to the competence of the particular animal keeper; stresses the importance of training and regular further training in this regard;

9. Highlights that the diversity of European livestock farming systems, ranging from free-range farming often involving pastures of high environmental value and endangered farmed species and breeds to large-scale, specialised and highly efficient farms, crop-livestock systems, regenerative and organic farming and pasture farming, seasonal transhumance, forest grazing and small-scale farming of animals for personal use, and the variety of breeds of livestock kept allows farms to provide a range of complementary goods and services, and thereby improves the resilience of the whole livestock sector while satisfying a wide range of consumer demands; calls on the Commission to promote and enable the diversity of production systems;

10. Stresses the need for increased transparency in the allocation and use of EU funds allocated to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in order to prevent any risk of misuse or undue influence on EU policies; calls on the Commission to establish a public register specifying the amount and purpose of funding received by NGOs; is concerned about the allocation of funds, including through the programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE), to NGOs carrying out lobbying activities before the EU institutions, in particular on animal welfare, thereby potentially violating the principles of separation of powers and sincere cooperation; calls on the Commission to stop funding NGOs conducting targeted lobbying and conveying a misleading, militant and ideological image of livestock farming in Europe; calls on the Commission to ensure that all beneficiaries of consolidated funds disclose their meetings with representatives of the EU institutions when they aim to influence EU policies;

Economic sustainability and food security

11. Notes that maintaining a thriving, sustainable and resilient livestock sector in the EU will benefit global food security, strengthen the EU’s food sovereignty and economic growth and contribute to balanced and diverse European diets through the consumption of animal-based products of high nutritional quality that are a unique source of several micronutrients and bioactive compounds, the nutritional value of which cannot be adequately replaced by plant or artificial alternatives and should be acknowledged when drafting evidence-based dietary guidelines;

12. Notes that the FAO’s 2023 report entitled ‘Contribution of terrestrial animal source foods to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes’ highlights the role of animal-based foods in providing high-quality protein and essential micronutrients that may be lacking in plant-based diets; stresses that these foods are vital for children, teenagers, pregnant and lactating women, women of reproductive age, older people, and people living with chronic diseases, and that they could be difficult to replace with plant-based alternatives;

13. Strongly underlines the importance of livestock farming for regional value chains and local markets; calls on the Commission to carry out an impact assessment of the social and economic consequences of further dismantling the network of regional slaughterhouses;

14. Calls for a balanced approach that recognises the essential role of animal-based products in global nutrition, while taking into account the importance of such production for farm income and economic stability; recalls that livestock plays an important role in the circular economy and the upcycling of waste streams from the food industry, and in multiple sectors such as textiles, clothing, footwear, leather goods, construction, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; points out the need to address, at the same time, the different impacts of production systems on the environment, climate and animal welfare;

15. Underlines the need to continue ensuring food security in Europe while minimising environmental impact, a challenge to be met through transparent, science-based approaches and innovation;

16. Underlines that improving productivity, resilience, efficiency and sustainability in the EU’s livestock sector is essential to increase the domestic supply of high-quality proteins that meet EU consumers’ needs and strengthen food security, particularly in the context of the volatility of global markets, geopolitical tensions and the expected rise in global protein demand over the next 30 years; notes that the EU remains heavily dependent on imports of plant-based proteins for animal feed from a limited number of partners, which undermines protein sovereignty and makes the food system vulnerable to global market fluctuations;

17. Stresses that sustainable, diversified and domestic protein production is essential to ensure sufficient, safe and high-quality food and feed; highlights that the animal protein sector can support such production by using livestock effluents as natural fertilisers and recovering plant by-products for feed and waste streams from food to promote a more integrated, circular and sustainable system; welcomes the Commission’s announcement, in its Vision for Agriculture and Food, that it will develop a comprehensive plan for a more self-sufficient and sustainable EU protein system, addressing the production, import and consumption of proteins in the EU to ensure the long-term resilience of the agri-food system;

18. Stresses the need to strengthen farmers’ position in the agri-food value chain, including through cooperatives, producer organisations and associations, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to explore mechanisms that ensure that farmers receive prices that at least cover their production costs; recalls that providing livestock producers with decent, fair and more stable incomes, better working conditions, social recognition, improved access to credit, and sustainable funding for research and investment in livestock quality is key to ensuring the economic sustainability of the sector, properly valuing farmers’ role in securing the EU’s food supply and attracting younger generations;

19. Emphasises that price instability, high production costs, excessive red tape and a lack of recognition of the profession by society have contributed to people leaving farming and to the ageing of the sector; points out that small and medium-sized farms already have to comply with a number of requirements, the effects of which do not reflect a reasonable cost-benefit ratio; reiterates, therefore, the need for effective instruments to support income, cut red tape, simplify existing legislation and improve the recognition of farm work in society, as key elements for ensuring the long-term viability of livestock farming in the EU; calls on the Commission to support the livestock sector and to proceed with the adoption of its livestock strategy;

20. Points out that investments in new livestock installations and the renovation of existing ones entail significant costs and must be planned and carried out over a long period of time; warns that revisions of animal welfare legislation could lead to livestock installations losing their authorisations, meaning that they have to be rebuilt at a high cost years before the end of their intended lifespan; calls on the Commission to promote and incentivise, within its capabilities, good authorisation practices in the Member States;

21. Underlines that sustainable livestock farming, particularly in small and medium-sized farms, is fundamental for the socio-economic vitality of rural areas, especially mountainous areas, livestock-dense areas, and disadvantaged areas such as permanent grasslands, peatlands and meadows, where it is often the main or even only viable economic activity and sustains production, economic growth and landscape maintenance; stresses that livestock farming not only creates rural employment and helps prevent depopulation, but also contributes to active land management, fire prevention, biodiversity conservation and the preservation of cultural and landscape heritage; highlights that in many regions it plays an irreplaceable role in territorial cohesion and in keeping communities alive; underlines that extensive grazing livestock farming is an effective way to reward farmers for the ecosystem services they provide;

22. Calls on the Commission to launch a plan that fosters new technologies, feed innovation and genetic herd improvement, to enhance investment in public and private research on animal breeding and genetics, to facilitate the dissemination of good practices rather than imposing large-scale numerical herd restructuring measures that would reduce and endanger European food sovereignty and security, and to optimise production and efficiency; underlines that animal breeding is an important tool to improve productivity, efficiency and animal health; stresses that the EU is a leader in research and innovation on animal breeding and genetics;

23. Calls for a plan to safeguard the gene pools of various endangered traditional breeds, promote local species and rearing rustic breeds better adapted to local climates and disseminate best practice while preserving genetic diversity; stresses the need to maintain aid under Article 27 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2472 to support genetic progress in animal production; underlines the urgent need to promote research, innovation and the adoption of evidence-based practices that improve livestock sustainability across environmental, social and economic dimensions, including through targeted investment in genetic research, nutritional efficiency and selection for long-lasting production traits, and the need to stimulate and fund research and innovation in livestock dense areas to reduce environmental impact, while promoting high animal welfare standards and fostering integrated and resilient livestock supply chains; notes that genetic improvement with good management and innovation can cut emissions and provide a sustainable alternative to abrupt restructuring that threatens farm viability and EU food sovereignty;

24. Acknowledges that the Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food points out that the CAP remains essential for supporting farmers’ income, and that CAP direct payments continue to play a crucial role in supporting and stabilising agricultural income at farm level; stresses the importance of safeguarding direct income support and all the programmes currently funded by the CAP, as the livestock and mixed farming sectors are large beneficiaries of the current CAP under Pillar One (direct payments, coupled payments for beef, veal, sheep and goat) and Pillar Two, particularly through support for investments, payments for natural or other area-specific constraints and agri-environment-climate commitments; notes that economic viability and insufficient generational renewal are a challenge for many holdings, requiring special attention and production-related subsidies, and stresses the importance of coupled payments to active farmers; calls for a dedicated and robust budget for the CAP in the next multiannual financial framework and notes that this must be ring-fenced and maintained at least at the level of the current CAP budget in real terms, while also taking into account inflation;

25. Underlines the key role of cooperatives, given the perishable nature of animal-based products and high transaction costs, and calls on the Commission to support them to enhance resilience, producer empowerment, the valorisation of co-products and generational renewal and promote circular approaches; calls for CAP support to be tailored to farm circumstances, especially small-scale and family farms, and for the possibility of per-animal payments in the livestock sector; stresses the need to enhance the economic viability of farmers through diversification and risk management tools to improve competitiveness, profitability, and long-term resilience;

26. Notes that farmers are facing increasing and diverse risks, such as unpredictable markets, climate change and related extreme weather events, animal diseases, geopolitical tensions and uncertain impacts of trade agreements; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to both strengthen crisis management tools and increase the agricultural crisis reserve in the post-2027 CAP and combine it with the creation of new specific financial instruments funded from outside the CAP, as these measures are essential to better address the economic loss and additional costs faced by EU farmers and to provide them with greater stability;

27. Calls on the Commission to build on existing CAP support to strengthen financial and socio-economic mechanisms; insists that CAP payments remain essential for livestock income continuity, particularly for holdings specialising in beef, dairy, sheep and goat production, and those providing environmental services via extensive grazing; underlines the need for a transitional period post-2027 to allow adaptation to new rules; welcomes the inclusion in the CAP Omnibus of the acquisition of high-genetic-value bovine, sheep and goat animals among the eligible expenditures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development; calls on the Commission to extend this provision to high-genetic-value pigs for breeding purposes, given their importance for the competitiveness and resilience of the European livestock sector; underlines the need to maintain at least the same level of ambition in the CAP post-2027; lastly, calls on the Commission to recognise the specific needs of livestock farmers in densely populated areas and to provide adequate CAP support, noting that balanced regional development can be enhanced by the maintenance of farm numbers and local infrastructure such as slaughterhouses, feed mills and processing facilities;

28. Underlines the need to stop and reverse the decapitalisation of the livestock sector and to ensure full reciprocity of EU standards for all imported products; calls on the Commission to develop specific strategies to ensure a level playing field and greater consistency between its trade and sustainability policies; calls on the Commission and the Member States to better take into account the specificities of the agricultural sector, ensure full reciprocity of EU standards by including mirror clauses when concluding trade agreements, and safeguard European agriculture, food production and public health in all trade agreements; insists, in this respect, that international trade agreements should not negatively impact European agriculture and should guarantee reciprocity and pose no risks to public health; stresses the urgency of adapting market interventions by updating reference prices for safeguard clauses in line with new market conditions and management tools;

29. Highlights that livestock farmers should also be able to benefit from the additional revenue stream provided by carbon farming; calls, in this respect, for a gradual shift away from the current system centred on prescribed practices and upfront administrative authorisation towards a results-driven emissions management framework, while allowing livestock farmers to decide which methods and technologies to use, thereby preserving entrepreneurial freedom and ensuring accountability for meeting those objectives;

30. Urges the Commission to review the regulations on meat processing, such as the technology used for meat inspection, and the harmonisation of minimum guidelines on meat content evaluation, which currently limit the full utilisation of animal carcasses, to increase transparency of the supply chain and ensure higher income for farmers;

31. Notes that livestock farming systems could, in particular, take advantage of practices and technologies that can be used to improve animal health and welfare and achieve efficiency gains, including, for instance, low-cost systems, two-way systems and precision livestock farming, and make use of new digital technologies that improve animal and system management, data processing and traceability; requests that the Commission report on best practices in livestock sustainability and propose concrete measures that support the sector’s innovation, efficiency and resilience, including better use of existing common databases and gene banks of foundation breeds to enable breeders who so wish to continue breeding certain old species; highlights the digital skills gap between rural and urban areas; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the digital transformation benefits farmers;

32. Underscores that the pursuit of improved animal productivity or climate targets must not come at the expense of animal health and welfare;

33. Encourages the development of policies that support family farms and young and new farmers in maintaining and improving sustainable livestock production and small-scale livestock production as a means of livelihood and food security; points out that it is therefore necessary to support farmers in becoming well established through strong, dedicated financial tools, in order to allow them to be better able to face financial pressures; insists on the importance of collective structures such as farmer-owned and -run cooperatives and producer organisations;

34. Emphasises the need to strengthen support for the outermost regions, where structural and geographical conditions lead to much higher farming costs; calls on the Commission to update POSEI funding in the next multiannual financial framework to reflect inflation since 2007; notes that indexation alone is not enough to address rising production, transport and supply costs; stresses that adequate POSEI funding is essential to sustain farming, ensure farm viability and uphold the EU’s economic, social and territorial cohesion, in accordance with Article 349 TFEU;

35. Calls on the Commission to recognise the specific needs and challenges faced by livestock farmers in mountainous and disadvantaged areas, including island, inland, remote and outermost regions, and to ensure adequate support through the CAP, in particular through coupled support, sector-specific interventions and targeted rural development measures; underlines that maintaining livestock farming in remote, island and less favoured areas contributes to environmental sustainability by preventing land abandonment, supporting biodiversity and preserving traditional landscapes, supports farmers’ incomes and rural livelihoods and helps repopulate rural areas; emphasises the importance of ensuring the active participation of representatives of the outermost regions within the high-level group, as the specific geographical, socio-economic and production characteristics of these regions present their own challenges that require particular attention in the process of drawing up EU policies;

36. Highlights the necessity of global cooperation and innovative knowledge transfer in supporting sustainable livestock systems, particularly from European regions with highly efficient livestock systems, induced by rapid population growth and urbanisation;

37. Urges the Member States and the Commission to invest in education, training and infrastructure that enable farmers to implement livestock production practices that are more sustainable, more efficient and better for animals’ health and welfare, including digitalisation, applied research, transfer of knowledge and training on innovative tools and technologies for the early detection and prevention of epizootic diseases, such as health monitoring systems for livestock; highlights the importance of independent advisory services in this regard, and calls on Member States to make full use of the CAP in order to properly fund these services;

38. Calls for simpler animal welfare rules that focus on helping farmers through education and support rather than enforcement-focused methods;

39. Urges the Commission to present its conclusions on the development of an animal welfare labelling system that guarantees adequate and uniform information for consumers, thereby avoiding the risks to the internal market generated by the proliferation of local animal welfare schemes;

40. Points out that, with only 12 % of farm holdings in the EU run by people under the age of 40, the lack of young farmers threatens the economic viability, generational continuity and future sustainability of the European livestock sector; urges the Commission, therefore, to improve the effectiveness of start‑up support in overcoming entry barriers to the livestock sector, including high start-up costs; underlines the struggle of attracting young farmers to the livestock sector, which suffers from a lack of attractiveness because of the demanding nature of the work such as long working hours, limited opportunities to take time off and a lack of replacement services, and the need to take into account the increasing number of women working on livestock farms by promoting gender-inclusive measures and opportunities;

41. Welcomes the Commission’s generational renewal strategy; calls on the Commission to provide recommendations and explore solutions to tackle the key barriers to the installation of young livestock farmers, in particular high initial investments in infrastructure, difficulties in accessing land, especially as a result of differences between Member States, limited access to credit, labour shortages, issues related to risk management, the prevention and control of animal diseases and bureaucratic burdens;

42. Invites the Commission to consider the possibility of granting more direct payments to young farmers; stresses, moreover, the need to create suitable conditions for decent retirement; emphasises that facilitating access to credit and land, especially in Member States with high land prices, increasing investment in livestock quality and improving services in rural areas are essential conditions for attracting and retaining a new generation of farmers; stresses that the advice for Member States to allocate 6 % of the CAP budget to generational renewal is not binding enough to guarantee sufficient support for young farmers;

43. Welcomes the Commission’s presentation of the EU bioeconomy strategy; invites the Commission to recognise the role of innovative livestock farming in promoting circularity and to fully unlock the potential of energy production, particularly biogas and biomethane, the use of digestate as a bio-based fertiliser and the valorisation of livestock by-products through the rendering sector to provide additional sources of income for livestock farmers; underlines that livestock dense areas in particular play an important role in the bioeconomy, as their proximity to urban areas and short distances enable circular cooperation in upscaling human waste streams and the processing of farm waste streams;

44. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to identify adequate and long-term funding opportunities for preventive measures and compensation for farmers, which can include, but should not be limited to, the CAP, not only for losses suffered and costs incurred due to large carnivore attacks, but also for mitigation measures, including advisory services, knowledge sharing, and training for farmers on coexistence between grazing livestock and large carnivores;

45. Highlights that the targeted amendment of the Habitats Directive to align EU legislation with the updated Bern Convention protection level of the wolf is intended to provide greater flexibility in managing wolf populations across the EU and to minimise socio-economic impacts; stresses the need to take into account the high cross-border mobility of species and the fact that the conservation status of different populations of the same species can vary across regions; calls on the Commission and the Member States to further intensify cross-border collaboration on these issues;

Environmental sustainability

46. Acknowledges the essential role of livestock farming, notably grassland-based systems, in maintaining circular agricultural systems, enhancing ecosystem services and providing climate and environmental services by sequestering carbon, improving water quality and soil health, protecting biodiversity, providing habitats for fauna and flora, maintaining diversified and open landscapes, particularly in mountainous areas, and making use of marginal lands that cannot produce food for humans; highlights that monogastric species such as poultry and swine can further enhance circularity through the incorporation of waste stream products into their feed and the recycling of biomass, while their manure provides a valuable source of natural fertiliser for crop production; stresses that significant herd reductions may compromise these ecosystem functions;

47. Invites the Commission to propose tools to enhance the role of livestock production in maintaining grasslands that are important for the environment and climate stability through more efficient farming systems, to improve the sustainability of livestock systems by increasing their efficiency, and to ensure higher incomes for livestock sector workers;

48. Stresses the importance of integrating livestock into sustainable agricultural models, including mixed farming systems, ensuring balanced nutrient flows and minimising resource competition; stresses the importance of efficient livestock use to balance sustainability and food needs, and highlights the benefits of rotational and mob grazing for fodder productivity, carbon sequestration, soil quality, biodiversity and drought resilience; underlines the need to increase awareness of the environmental benefits of well-managed animals;

49. Calls on the Commission to increase the scope for Member States to support farmers in preserving landscape via the CAP, while reducing regulatory obstacles to the full use of pastures and ensuring stronger protection of EU agricultural land against land take, degradation and competing non-agricultural uses;

50. Stresses the importance for farming systems to integrate crop production with animal husbandry in order to facilitate the recycling of nutrients by favouring organic fertilisers over synthetic ones, to reduce the consumption of chemicals and to enhance soil fertility and biodiversity;

51. Calls on the Commission, while acknowledging the strategic importance of conventional fertiliser production in the EU for European competitiveness, to support the use of animal manure on certain crops and accelerate the approval and uptake of alternative fertilising products, such as digestate and RENURE materials, to enhance nutrient recycling, reduce dependency on synthetic fertilisers imported from non-EU countries and promote circularity within livestock systems; recognises the livestock sector’s strategic role in reducing dependence on synthetic inputs and notes that enhancing the use of both digestate and RENURE contributes not only to the circular economy, but also to the decarbonisation of the EU economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the production of renewable energy and reducing the EU’s dependency on imported fossil fuels;

52. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a targeted revision of the Nitrates Directive to allow the use of RENURE fertilisers above the limit set for the application of manure and to align it with the latest scientific evidence and innovative fertilisation practices, including the use of manure so as to promote circular nutrient management while continuing to protect water quality; refers to recent studies on the benefits and neutral impact on water quality of derogations given to Member States;

53. Calls on the Commission to ensure fair prices or due compensation for breeders, given the increasing cost of fertilisers;

54. Calls on the Commission to invest in innovation and infrastructure that enable the broader use of manure-derived fertilisers and biogas from livestock farming, in line with the EU’s climate and energy objectives;

55. Calls on the Commission to rethink the way in which agricultural products, by-products and residual products are classified as waste in order to facilitate their use as commodities; stresses that farmed animals are an indispensable element of the circular economy linked to the agricultural sector, and underlines the need for better recognition of the contribution of livestock farming to the bioeconomy through a more comprehensive approach to the nutrient and carbon cycles across all areas of food and non-food production; calls on the Commission to draw on research findings in its approach to the livestock sector and to facilitate research in the development of circular feed; calls on the Commission to review the regulations on animal by-products not intended for human consumption, in order to simplify the use of low-risk products, such as wool;

56. Warns against ‘one-size-fits-all’ policies aimed at large-scale reductions in livestock populations, which could exacerbate environmental degradation and threaten the resilience of the food system; notes, in particular, that reducing ruminant numbers could lead to land-use change with negative effects, including land abandonment, forest development, a loss of biodiversity and increased risk of fire;

57. Calls for increased investment in research and innovation to optimise crop production and livestock management practices and reduce the ecological footprint of livestock, including plant and animal breeding, feeding, grazing and manure and field management techniques that enhance sustainability outcomes;

58. Stresses the importance of a strategy that takes into account the entire farming cycle, supports optimal crop rotation planning, maximises the use of arable land, and enhances and customises the composition of feedstuffs grown by farmers, starting with plant varieties that enable emissions reductions; highlights the importance of restoring entrepreneurial freedom in agriculture, enabling farmers to develop and choose ventilation, housing and feeding systems that are adapted to their specific circumstances and best suited to their production systems;

59. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that regulatory frameworks related to livestock are developed transparently, based on sound science, with full stakeholder engagement, especially from farmers and livestock producer organisations, and with long-term scenarios that allow for progressive adaptation; recommends that the decision-making process be underpinned by real public consultations, detailed impact studies and continuous feedback mechanisms to ensure effective and locally accepted implementation;

60. Calls for more policy space to be provided to facilitate a target-based approach, through farm-based benchmarking instead of top-down measures, meaning that farmers should be free to choose which measures to take, as long as they contribute to the set objectives;

61. Invites the Commission to propose tools to enhance the role of livestock production in maintaining environmentally and climatically valuable grasslands through more extensive farming systems and improve the sustainability of intensive systems;

Social dimension of livestock farming and sector-specific challenges

62. Stresses that the development of livestock policies must be firmly grounded in the highest scientific standards, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive understanding of the contributions and challenges associated with animal agriculture;

63. Underlines the importance of transparent, accessible and evidence-based scientific communication to counteract misinformation and ideological bias in public debates on livestock and meat production and consumption; points out, in this regard, that the World Health Organization encourages the consumption of animal proteins as part of a complete and balanced diet;

64. Emphasises that political decisions and social perceptions should be based on sound scientific evidence reflecting the diversity of production systems, their contribution to human nutrition, the rural economy and environmental sustainability, thus promoting a more positive image of the livestock sector, and that, to this end, it is essential to enhance the dialogue between science, policymakers, producers and consumers by encouraging an informed, balanced and non-polarised approach to the role of livestock farming in European society; stresses the importance of informing consumers of the benefits of consuming animal proteins as part of a complete and balanced diet;

65. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to reopen the issue of meat denominations used to designate meat and meat cuts, in order to protect products of animal origin, and to ban their use to label products of non-animal origin, and believes that this provision should apply to cell-culture-derived products and hybrid products consisting of a mixture of animal and plant proteins; recalls that such protection exists for dairy products; stresses that clear, fair and transparent labelling is essential to provide and enhance real transparency for consumers and to promote the quality of EU animal products, including by highlighting their recognised labels and short supply chains;

66. Urges policymakers at all levels to uphold evidence-based standards in the development of dietary guidelines, fully recognising the nutritional, cultural and economic importance of meat, dairy and eggs, while also taking into account the affordability and actual protein intake provided by animal products in different regions;

67. Calls on the Commission to revise Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 to introduce mandatory origin labelling for all meat-containing products placed on the EU market, even when meat is not the main ingredient, clearly indicating an EU/non-EU origin; calls on the Commission to evaluate the feasibility of introducing a compulsory indication of the country of origin of meat when it is used as an ingredient in processed products;

68. Calls on the Commission to work with scientists to present studies on the effects of food substitutes; warns against the uncritical promotion of nutritionally and environmentally inadequate food substitutes as replacements for traditional animal-sourced foods, including those that do not provide the same bioactive compounds or essential micronutrients found in natural meat from healthy animals reared in high-quality systems, and especially warns against their inclusion in food baskets for children and young people in schools; notes that traditional animal-sourced foods, together with plant-based foods, can contribute to a balanced and nutritious diet;

69. Demands that the Commission conduct a comprehensive impact assessment based on the latest scientific evidence and proper consultation with all relevant stakeholders before presenting new legislative proposals affecting the agricultural sector;

70. Expresses deep concern about the increasing drive to promote synthetic foods, such as lab-grown proteins, without there being conclusive scientific evidence regarding their safety, industrial viability and environmental benefits; underlines the need to conduct proper impact assessments based on scientific evidence, taking into account all aspects related to safety, environmental impact, market implications and consumer protection before proposing any new regulatory framework for emerging food technologies, in particular through clear and appropriate labelling;

71. Emphasises the ecological role of ruminants and the nutritional value of natural meat, and stresses that synthetic food production is greatly dependent on highly industrialised, energy-intensive processes that require significant levels of chemical inputs, which is at odds with the principles of sustainability advocated by the EU; points out that, to date, synthetic food has neither been a viable solution nor a safe alternative to traditional agriculture and livestock production, and that its promotion could endanger thousands of family farms; calls on the Commission to undertake rigorous and independent assessments of synthetic food products as regards health, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, together with consumer protection concerns and impacts on traditional agriculture and livestock production; calls for the existing regulatory frameworks to be clearly focused on protecting consumers, European producers and rural areas;

72. Stresses the essential role of the livestock sector in contributing to food security, job creation, the preservation and promotion of localism, and economic stability across the EU; recognises livestock more broadly not only as a provider of food and environmental services, but also as a driver of social responsibility, decent working conditions and rural development; underlines the importance of the CAP result indicator (I.24) on ‘Contributing to jobs in rural areas’ in focusing attention on the role of livestock farming, especially family-run and small-scale holdings;

73. Stresses that without adequate financing, the sector will become increasingly unattractive to young people, posing a risk not only of job losses but also of a decline in the EU’s nutritional and social competitiveness;

74. Points out the importance of acknowledging and highlighting the fundamental role played by women on livestock farms where, alongside daily farm work, they are often responsible for managing and transmitting knowledge between generations; emphasises, in this regard, that family farming, in which women and the family play a central role, is the backbone of European livestock production and should be supported by specific policies that recognise its economic, social and cultural importance; considers, therefore, that European public policies should include a more effective gender perspective by promoting targeted measures to support women farmers, ensuring equal opportunities, visibility for their contributions and improved access to training, funding and representation in decision-making processes;

75. Stresses the essential role of agriculture and livestock production in providing social benefits to communities in terms of maintaining open space, education, and the provision of care for people with specific needs in the form of on-farm ‘green care’; emphasises the need to maintain agriculture and livestock production in all EU regions, to specifically facilitate these forms of ‘green care’ and to remunerate farmers adequately for their work;

76. Stresses the importance of the mental health and well-being of farmers, and calls for the inclusion of psychological support, administrative simplification and work-life balance measures, as well as measures to combat isolation in future CAP instruments;

Animal diseases

77. Stresses that animal diseases have significant socio-economic, environmental and animal welfare consequences at farm, sub-national, national and regional level; highlights that their impact on livestock production will be further exacerbated by the rise in temperatures, wind speeds and increasingly frequent climate-related extreme weather events within the EU, which must be addressed;

78. Stresses the need for strengthened monitoring and preventive measures to avoid the transmission, within the EU, of animal diseases from both EU and non-EU countries, and calls for a systematic assessment of biosafety vulnerabilities in the EU, with a focus on entry pathways for known and novel diseases;

79. Stresses that, in the EU, any failure to prevent or control animal diseases in one Member State can have immediate repercussions for the others, and requires a coordinated response; highlights, therefore, the importance and cost-effectiveness of prevention, in particular concerning vaccination, early detection and preparedness, appropriate information exchange and coordination between Member States, and economic compensation instruments for livestock farmers who suffer direct and indirect damage as a result of the application of health measures;

80. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide the resources necessary to implement effective and efficient prevention and control programmes, including financial, veterinary, technical and administrative support, and research into the genetic selection of animals with increased resistance to emerging diseases;

81. Stresses the importance of taking timely and effective action to control the spread of animal diseases; calls on the Commission to reinforce a dedicated rapid alert and response mechanism, to be activated in the event of a suspected or confirmed outbreak of animal diseases, in order to ensure real-time exchange of information between national authorities and the Commission on the epidemiological situation, to facilitate the coordination of risk assessment and control measures between Member States and to ensure adequate communication to all relevant stakeholders, in particular farmers and consumers;

82. Welcomes the fact that by 2023, the EU had already reached half of its 2030 target of a 50 % reduction in the sale and use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine in 2023; stresses the need to continue these efforts and to develop an EU-coordinated approach on animal disease prevention and detection with early monitoring, vaccination and biosecurity measures to avoid a rise in animal disease that could undermine the achievement of the antimicrobial reduction target;

83. Stresses the importance of developing advanced diagnostic tools, predictive modelling and decontamination techniques; calls on the Commission to consider further strengthening the EU’s animal health standards to safeguard livestock farming, including provisions for the reduction or exclusion of wild animal populations that pose infectious disease risks and for the targeted vaccination of animals, where necessary, as a complement to responsible selection and breeding of livestock, which can help to reduce the incidence of endemic and emerging diseases;

84. Invites the Commission to recognise the role of, and support, the veterinary medicinal sector in its efforts to bring biotechnologies from the laboratory to the farm, by accelerating and streamlining regulatory processes, financing and upscaling animal health biotechnologies, informing farmers and the general public of their benefits, upskilling and reskilling the workforce, and supporting the collection of data and use of artificial intelligence on farms and in the animal health sector;

85. Calls on the Commission to improve the monitoring and reporting of these costs, both direct and indirect, to increase the effectiveness and speed of EU and Member States support measures; notes, in this respect, that the FAO has developed a new tool, known as OutCosT (OUTbreak COSting Tool), that enables countries to assess the financial burden associated with animal disease outbreaks and measures to control them;

86. Supports the call on the Commission by a group of Member States to adapt the EU’s approach to tackling animal diseases by using vaccination, where possible and depending on the species and diseases, as a preventive measure as part of a broader toolbox;

87. Stresses, however, that vaccination is even more effective when complemented by biosecurity and surveillance measures; emphasises that vaccination measures must be combined with genetic selection programmes for immunological resistance, especially for indigenous breeds and in vulnerable areas, for long-term protection; underlines that efforts in this area must be intensified and supported through accessible and affordable vaccines, biosecurity measures that are appropriately calibrated to the level of risk, and additional and dedicated funding for affected farmers in all Member States under the post-2027 CAP;

88. Underlines the importance of a coordinated approach to animal health that includes proactive investment in research, monitoring systems, vaccine development and curative treatment options to manage both known and emerging diseases; acknowledges the development of ‘DIVA’ (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) vaccines, which enable the distinction between animals which have been infected with a pathogen and those that have been vaccinated against it; calls, therefore, on the Commission to take into account the latest scientific developments and to revise Regulation (EU) 2016/429 with the aim of creating a new health status category called ‘disease-free with vaccination’; calls on the Commission to foster investment in research and development of DIVA vaccines through Horizon Europe and to accelerate their use among farmers;

89. Calls on the Commission to support investment in on-farm biosecurity through increased funding, including outside the CAP; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to strengthen animal health measures in the EU agricultural sector by coordinating the research, joint purchasing, stockpiling and supplying of veterinary vaccines, new antigen and diagnostic reagent and immunological veterinary medicinal products at EU level through a preparedness and early detection mechanism, and by fostering the development of these products within the EU; calls on the Commission to ensure adequate funding for this mechanism;

90. Encourages the establishment of strategic stocks to enable a more rapid response in the event of new epidemics; emphasises the urgent need to establish a centralised and harmonised data banking system for animal vaccinations across the Member States; points out that such a system would enhance traceability, improve disease surveillance, support timely responses to outbreaks and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the EU’s animal health and food safety policies; notes that a comprehensive vaccination data bank would facilitate cross-border cooperation, ensure compliance with EU standards, and provide valuable insights for policy development, research and the sustainable management of livestock health;

91. Supports research into new technologies for inactivating viruses in food products, such as high-pressure processing, which has shown promise as a method for preserving food safety and quality; underlines the importance of specific animal diets and feed formulations in preventing the spread of certain diseases and improving overall animal health and resilience;

92. Urges the Commission and the Member States to support and cooperate with regional authorities, and consult with farmers, on developing and implementing prevention, vaccination and mitigation plans for these diseases, while avoiding the culling of animals as much as possible;

93. Calls for greater collaboration between the EU, industry stakeholders and international partners, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that knowledge is shared to enhance disease management and prevention;

94. Calls on the Commission to increase EU funding for eradication and control schemes in the Member States; recommends establishing comprehensive economic support systems, including compensation schemes that cover the entire supply chain, to ensure that all affected parties, especially livestock farmers, receive adequate assistance; stresses that, in cases of serious animal disease outbreaks that incur significant economic losses, accelerated financial aid must be made available to reduce uncertainty and maintain economic continuity; calls on the Member States to streamline the assessment of support applications, eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers and set clear deadlines for aid disbursement to help farmers better plan and stabilise their operations;

95. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal, in its 2025 CAP simplification and competitiveness package, to boost the CAP’s capacity to provide financial and operational support to farmers affected by natural disasters, adverse climate-related weather events or animal diseases by introducing an additional crisis payment that Member States could mobilise under rural development funds; considers that the future CAP must also actively support farmers’ capacity to cope with the spread of animal diseases and epidemics, especially by providing a substantially larger budget for crisis management tools and the agricultural crisis reserve that can be activated quickly and effectively to support affected farmers;

96. Invites the Member States to complement this initiative by further developing risk management schemes that are suited to crisis situations linked to animal diseases, including by facilitating access to insurance schemes and mutual funds; calls on the Commission to propose the creation of a new European reinsurance instrument that makes it possible to cover risks associated with new epizootics and to ensure that all agricultural holdings have access to insurance contracts to protect against epizootics;

97. Calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of establishing a European animal health fund, to provide rapid and equitable support in the event of disease outbreaks; stresses that in view of the risks posed by various animal diseases it is essential to allocate funds to animal genetic improvement in order to create breeds that are more disease-resistant, thus strengthening the EU’s food security in the face of potential health crises;

98. Urges the Commission to engage with international trading partners to ensure that regionalised trade bans and recognised inactivation treatments, such as cooking and long curing, are accepted, reducing unnecessary economic harm to the EU livestock industry;

99. Urges the Commission to assess the feasibility, in some specific cases, of the ring-fencing mechanism based on biosecurity management and husbandry practices, assessing its applicability in the international context together with the EU’s most reliable trading partners;

100. Urges the Commission to assess the risks arising from the increasing number of wild ungulates and their implications for animal health, public health and biodiversity; considers it necessary, in this regard, to implement horizontal measures aimed at adequately managing this overpopulation;

Trade aspects

101. Underlines that the EU’s livestock sector is particularly vulnerable to diverse external shocks, including health crises, extreme weather events, price volatility and disruptions to supply chains, as well as increasing competition from non-EU countries, the products of which do not always meet the EU’s high environmental, animal welfare, health and food safety standards, which explains the concerns raised by farmers over the lack of reciprocity and unfair global competition; emphasises, therefore, the need to ensure equitable competition conditions on the international market to protect the economic viability of European undertakings and guarantee reciprocal standards in trade agreements; calls, therefore, for the sector’s vulnerability to be taken into account when concluding trade agreements;

102. Calls for the creation of a special instrument within the next multiannual financial framework that would provide targeted support for agricultural sectors, including the livestock sector, that could experience disruptions or require adjustments as a result of the effects of ongoing trade agreements;

103. Points out that, in a context where EU consumption of animal products and meat in particular is – at best – stagnating, but global demand for animal protein is expected to rise, the economic importance of exports and of positioning the EU as a global leader in climate- and animal-friendly agriculture, exporting knowledge, technology and practices for the transition to sustainability to global markets, should be acknowledged while ensuring EU food sovereignty; emphasises that this could boost research, innovation, investment and employment; underlines that, in this context, investment in improved livestock quality and genetic traceability is becoming essential to meet the global demand for animal products of high nutritional value;

104. Regrets the fact that the EU’s ambitious health, animal welfare, environmental and other sustainability standards and objectives are not always reciprocated by our trading partners; insists that EU livestock farmers are therefore not competing on a level playing field with non-EU country producers, either on international markets or on the EU internal market;

105. Notes that, while all food imports placed on the EU market must comply with the relevant and high EU standards relating to the end products, which are applicable irrespective of whether the product is produced domestically or imported, production requirements (referred to as ‘process and production methods’) are usually not imposed on imported products;

106. Insists that, in line with the Commission conclusions on the application of EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products, there is policy space to pursue the application of health, environmental and animal welfare requirements on process and production methods to imported products in a manner compatible with WTO rules; acknowledges that before applying production standards to imports, it is always essential to make a case-by-case assessment, as stated in the Commission report;

107. Calls on the Commission to ensure greater coherence between its trade and sustainability policies by including the reciprocity of environmental, animal health and animal welfare standards at every stage of production through mirror clauses in all negotiated trade agreements, in order to make sure that imported products that do not meet EU standards are not placed on the EU market; calls on the Commission to ensure and strengthen due and strict controls on imports to protect domestic producers and EU consumers;

108. Calls on the Commission to strengthen a well-funded EU promotion policy by increasing its budget for EU agricultural products, including animal-based products, and to ensure continued support for geographical indications in international trade as a key pillar of quality, traceability and rural development; underlines that the livestock sector is responsible for a significant share of European geographical indications, including products such as cheeses, sausages, hams and fresh meats, which are the result of expertise handed down through generations and production methods that are intimately linked to their regions of origin;

109. Emphasises that quality denominations not only showcase producers’ work, but also protect traditional practices, promote the diversity of European gastronomy and help preserve the cultural identity of production sites; underlines, furthermore, the importance of clear and accurate labelling to enhance product traceability and protect consumers from misleading marketing practices, both outside and within the EU, such as the use of ‘European-sounding’ or lookalike names that falsely suggest that products are of EU or local origin or quality;

110. Calls on the Commission to further support farmers in their efforts to comply with EU standards in order to avoid a loss of competitiveness and the subsequent relocation of EU production to non-EU countries with lower animal welfare, production and social standards, and to ensure that producers have access to financing to improve livestock genetics, so that competitiveness is strengthened through quality rather than quantity;

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111. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The rapporteur underscores the livestock sector as a cornerstone of the EU economy and food security, contributing significantly to agricultural output, employment, and rural vitality. Beyond its economic role, livestock farming provides essential environmental services such as landscape management, carbon sequestration, and water regulation. As the world’s second largest meat producer and leading milk producer, the EU maintains a strong global position, with livestock playing a vital role in supplying high-quality protein and nutrients for balanced diets. Global demand for animal protein is expected to rise significantly by 2050, reinforcing the sector’s long-term relevance.

Despite this, the EU livestock sector faces mounting economic, environmental, and social pressures. Livestock populations are declining, as are meat and dairy consumption levels—except poultry. Many farmers are exiting the sector due to economic difficulties, a lack of generational renewal, and insufficient attractiveness. High production costs and rising regulatory demands on emissions and animal welfare further strain competitiveness. Meanwhile, consumers increasingly demand higher welfare standards, contributing to a shift toward less intensive models. Animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza, exacerbated by climate change, present severe risks. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is also a growing concern, while the expansion of large carnivores imposes costs on pastoralism and threatens coexistence.

To address these challenges, the rapporteur welcomes the Commission’s “Vision for Agriculture and Food” and proposes establishing a High Level Group on livestock to develop a coordinated, multidimensional response. Recognising the diversity of EU livestock systems—from small-scale free-range farms to large specialised operations—tailored policy approaches are needed. This diversity strengthens resilience and should be actively promoted.

Boosting productivity and efficiency is essential for food sovereignty and meeting future protein demands. Stable incomes and better working conditions are critical to sustaining the sector, especially in mountain and disadvantaged areas where livestock farming supports employment and preserves cultural heritage. The rapporteur rejects drastic restructuring and instead advocates optimizing production and emissions through genetic improvements and best practices.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains central to supporting livestock. The rapporteur calls for maintaining the CAP budget in real terms, ensuring continued coupled support for ruminants without extra environmental conditions, and updating reference prices for market interventions. Recognising the importance of CAP subsidies to livestock incomes, especially in beef and dairy farming, the rapporteur insists on a transitional period for any new support schemes post-2027. Start-up support for young farmers, gender-inclusive measures, and improved access to land and finance are essential to attract new entrants. The forthcoming EU bio-economy strategy should recognise the circular role of livestock and promote by-product use through rendering. Compensation and long-term funding are needed for farmers affected by large carnivore attacks, while amending the Habitats Directive to manage wolf populations is encouraged.

Grassland-based systems are central to circular agriculture, contributing to ecosystem services such as biodiversity, water quality, and carbon storage. Integrating crop and livestock production enhances nutrient recycling and soil health. The rapporteur urges faster approval of alternative fertilisers like digestate and RENURE, and revision of the Nitrates Directive to reflect scientific progress. Investment in manure-based fertilizers and biogas infrastructure is critical for climate and energy goals. One-size-fits-all livestock reduction strategies risk environmental degradation, land abandonment, and biodiversity loss, and must be avoided.

Science-based policymaking is essential. The rapporteur stresses the need for transparent, evidence-based communication to counter misinformation and ensure a balanced view of livestock’s contributions and challenges. EU dietary guidelines must remain grounded in science, recognising the nutritional, cultural, and economic role of meat, dairy, and eggs, and avoiding the blanket promotion of nutritionally inferior substitutes. New food technologies like cellular agriculture must undergo rigorous safety, environmental, and market assessments to ensure they do not undermine traditional systems.

Animal diseases continue to carry severe socio-economic impacts. The rapporteur calls for improved monitoring and faster support mechanisms, integrating prevention, early detection, vaccination, and enhanced biosecurity. Collaboration among EU institutions, industry, and global partners is essential. Compensation schemes and financial support across the supply chain during outbreaks are vital. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission’s CAP simplification package proposal to reinforce crisis payments and encourages Member States to develop further risk management tools like insurance and mutual funds. High EU level animal health standards, including for wild animal vectors, must be upheld.

Facing tough global competition, the rapporteur highlights that EU producers are often held to higher environmental and animal welfare standards than their international counterparts. Ensuring reciprocity in trade agreements is essential. The rapporteur urges robust enforcement of import controls and inclusion of equivalent standards in all trade deals. Strengthening EU promotion policies for agricultural products, including animal-based goods, and supporting geographical indications (GIs) are key to ensuring quality, traceability, and rural development. Accurate labelling is critical to prevent consumer deception through “European-sounding” branding and to enhance transparency throughout the supply chain.

Lastly, the rapporteur stresses the need for continued support to help farmers meet EU standards and avoid production relocation to countries with weaker environmental and welfare regulations. A strong, sustainable EU livestock sector is indispensable for food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental stewardship in the years ahead.

ANNEX: DECLARATION(S) OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE