The 26th meeting of the Steering Group of the WOAH Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe (SG26) took place on 9 April 2026 via teleconference, bringing together representatives from across the region to review progress and define next steps under the Platform’s 4th Action Plan (2024–2026).
Chaired by Dr Galib Abdulaliyev, Vice-President of the WOAH Regional Commission for Europe, the meeting gathered 29 participants, including Steering Group (SG) members, experts and representatives from WOAH members and partner organisations.
Discussions focused on progress across the Platform’s five priority areas: slaughter of animals, dog population management, transport of animals, animal welfare in natural disasters, and welfare of working equids.
Participants reviewed key activities and ongoing work, including the development of a self-assessment tool for animal transport, initiatives on disaster preparedness, support for working equids, and training resources on animal welfare during slaughter.
Recent main events covered the regional workshop on dog population management in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and the multi-regional Whole Journey Scenario workshop in Amman (Jordan). These meetings supported the implementation of relevant WOAH standards and strengthened cross-regional cooperation.
Sharing the best practices and experiences is the key to building the trust and fostering cooperative approach to continue the improvement of the animal welfare
Governance, communication and monitoring were also central to the meeting. Members emphasised the importance of strengthening coordination across activities and enhancing collaboration with WOAH departments, Collaborating Centres and regional stakeholders.
Briefings were also provided by the European WOAH Collaborating Centre (CC) for Animal Welfare and the European Commission (EC). The CC highlighted its work on animal welfare during slaughter, animals in disasters, and integration into wildlife health and One Health approaches. Meanwhile, the EC presented recent policy developments, including the forthcoming EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, current work on animal transport, and the “End the Cage Age” programme, and reaffirmed its commitment to alignment with WOAH standards, cooperation, and funding for Platform activities.
The event contributed to the ongoing development of the Platform’s 5th Action Plan (2027–2029), which will be shaped through consultations with Members and partners throughout 2026 to ensure responsiveness to emerging needs and regional priorities.
Looking ahead, attendees reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and maintaining momentum in advancing implementation of animal welfare standards across Europe.
