Dialogos

Partial Registration of European Citizens' Initiative for Stray Animal Protection

Published February 10, 2026, 17:02
Partial Registration of European Citizens' Initiative for Stray Animal Protection

The European Commission has announced the partial registration of a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled “EU Initiative for the protection of stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU and in non-EU countries”. The initiative calls for increased protection of stray animals and ensuring that EU action in third countries does not contribute to their suffering. Additionally, it proposes restrictions on the use of animals for scientific purposes and linking EU funding to compliance with animal protection standards. The registration is partial, as the Commission can only act in areas where it has the power to propose new laws while urging member states to take action on matters directly related to animal welfare. The organizers have six months to begin collecting signatures, and if at least one million signatures are gathered, the Commission will be required to respond.