Putting horses at the centre of the political agenda in Europe

Helping horses have a voice is a cornerstone of our charity and our founder Ada Cole led the way by advocating for horses with the aim of ending their long journeys to slaughter. Today, we continue to be their voice by engaging with the decision-makers who can impact crucial legislation to protect horses. We caught up with our EU and International Public Affairs Officer, Sandra Zafra, to find out where her advocacy work has taken her and why.  

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This week, I’ve been at the very heart of EU decision-making – the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This has been what’s known as plenary week, which is when Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gather to debate and vote on crucial pieces of legislation. Being present at this time gives us the chance to influence key decision-makers at the perfect moment to make sure horses – and their welfare – are included on the political agenda.

Our charity was founded by Ada Cole to end the long-distance transport of horses across Europe to slaughter and we’ve committed to ending those journeys by 2027. To turn that all-important goal into reality, we need to meet directly with the policy-makers who can influence the relevant legislation. This enables us to advocate for meaningful progress and ensure horses are not overlooked in the legislative process – which can be both long and convoluted!

2026 is a decisive year for horses in Europe, as the European Commission proposal on the protection of animals during transport is being reviewed by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The good news is that the Council negotiations have been moving, slowly but steadily, but unfortunately the Parliament’s discussions have been blocked for several months now. This is delaying progress on a matter that’s crucial to improving horse welfare during transport.

We were really encouraged by the animal transport proposal, which contains a journey time limit for animals – including horses – going to slaughter. Almost 100 years after Ada vowed to put a stop to it, we’re closer than ever to ending these unnecessary and exhausting journeys. That’s why it’s so important that we’re present at this key time – so that we can ensure horses and their welfare remain firmly included in the debates about this legislation. We’re determined that their specific needs should be taken in account.

We’ve met with a number of MEPs this week and had some really productive conversations. A particular highlight was our meeting with MEP Tilly Metz, who is a co-rapporteur, or key figure amongst those dealing with the animal transport proposal. Her role is essential in shaping amendments to the proposal. We underlined the importance of introducing a finite short journey limit for horses destined for slaughter, and for species-specific provisions that ensure horses’ needs are taken into account. I’m delighted to share that her ongoing commitment to ending needless suffering was truly inspiring.

As well as having conversations with individual MEPs, we’ve taken the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals in person. This month, the meeting was focused on transport and featured a recent survey by Eurogroup for Animals, which revealed EU citizens’ attitudes towards ending long distance transport of live animals.

Many people – including the MEPs who have the power to change the situation – are still unaware that every year, thousands of horses endure long, exhausting journeys across Europe for slaughter. Building relationships through in-person meetings with MEPs means we can raise awareness of the issue with the people who have the ability to really make a difference. We want to ensure that horses are recognised as a priority species within the transport proposal, as otherwise it would be too easy for their specific needs to be overlooked.

 Importantly, our conversations this week have already opened the door to several follow-up meetings with MEPs in the coming weeks. These will help us keep horses high on the agenda and enable us to continue reinforcing the importance of stronger protection for them in EU transport legislation.

MEPs have incredibly busy schedules so being here has made it much easier for us to catch up with key people during a vital decision-making time. Having conversations in person has allowed us to explain our work and, crucially, why horse welfare must remain on the agenda amid so many competing priorities. These face-to-face conversations are essential for building trust, understanding, and momentum, just as Ada Cole was so skilled at doing all those years ago.