The European Parliament debated the Fidanza report on securing a sustainable future for EU livestock on 30 April 2026, exposing a clear divide between those defending current output levels and those urging a shift to extensive systems and fewer animal products. Rapporteur Carlo Fidanza (ECR) rejected forced herd cuts, defended CAP support and trade reciprocity, and called for stronger animal-health instruments. Commissioner Christophe Hansen aligned the report with the forthcoming livestock strategy, stressing profitability, sustainability, and territorial roles.
A key split emerged between those defending current output levels (Fidanza, Alexander Bernhuber/EPP, Benoit Cassart/Renew, Herbert Dorfmann/EPP, Elsi Katainen/Renew, Barry Cowen/Renew, Nora Junco García/ECR, Kristoffer Storm/ECR, Stanislav Stoyanov/ESN) and those urging a shift to extensive systems and fewer animal products (Tilly Metz/Greens/EFA, Pär Holmgren/Greens/EFA, Anja Hazekamp/The Left, Michal Wiezik/Renew). On regulation, many PfE and EPP speakers blamed overregulation and red tape for farmer decline (Tomáš Kubín/PfE, Willemien Koning/PfE, Barbara Bonte/PfE, Gilles Pennelle/PfE, Gerald Hauser/PfE), while Greens/EFA and S&D speakers pointed to market power of processors and supermarkets (David Cormand/Greens/EFA, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez/Greens/EFA, Cristina Maestre/S&D). Trade reciprocity was widely supported (Fidanza, Bernhuber, Bert-Jan Ruissen/ECR, Krzysztof Hetman/EPP, André Franqueira Rodrigues/S&D, Mireia Borrás Pabón/PfE), but Sigrid Friis (Renew) questioned a model based on soy imports and cheap exports. On animal diseases, many backed vaccination and prevention over culling (Kristian Vigenin/S&D, Maria Zacharia/NI, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos/NI, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis/EPP), while others stressed compensation and veterinary shortages (Veronika Vrecionová/ECR, Katarína Roth Neveďalová/NI). Innovation and circularity were broadly supported (Hansen, Cassart, Ruissen, Jérémy Decerle/Renew), but Greens/EFA and The Left argued for extensive systems. Consumer labelling and generational renewal saw cross-group support. The report will feed into the Commission's livestock strategy.