Romanian MEP Daniel Buda (PPE) has asked the European Commission whether it plans to establish a European financial support mechanism to help farmers and transporters cover the additional costs of new EU animal welfare rules during transport, warning that without compensation the burden could fall disproportionately on operators in remote or logistically disadvantaged regions.
In a written parliamentary question submitted on 14 June 2026, Buda acknowledged that the modernisation of animal transport rules pursues a legitimate aim but argued that the new requirements entail significant logistical, technological and operational adjustments. He stressed that high welfare standards must be accompanied by instruments making the transition economically viable, otherwise financial pressure risks being shifted onto already vulnerable producers, particularly in outlying areas or regions with greater logistical distances. 'Good regulation must also be enforceable, not just ambitious,' he wrote.
The question does not specify a desired budget size or timeline for the proposed support mechanism, but it frames the issue as one of fairness and implementation capacity across Member States. Buda's intervention reflects a broader concern among farming and transport stakeholders that stricter animal welfare rules, while broadly supported in principle, could create competitive distortions if compliance costs are not shared.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it is open to channelling EU funds — for instance from the Common Agricultural Policy or a dedicated instrument — to offset the costs, or whether it considers the new rules to be already balanced by transition periods and technical flexibility. The outcome will be closely watched by farming associations, transport operators, and animal welfare NGOs, as it could set a precedent for how the EU handles the economic impact of future animal welfare legislation.