Success in Brussels: EU adopts measures for animal-free research
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Promotion and expansion of animal-free methods in the European Research Area
As a result of the European Citizens’ Initiative for a Europe without animal testing, the European Union has launched an important measure: with the adoption of the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027 by the European Council, the promotion and establishment of animal-free methods (NAMs) has officially been anchored as a central European priority (“ERA Action”). The association Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE) considers this an important milestone, but calls for the consistent and swift implementation of the announced measures.
ERA Actions aim to improve research and innovation within the European Research Area (ERA) and to make Europe more attractive and competitive as a research location. A current ERA measure is a direct response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics”, which DAAE co-initiated through its umbrella organization ECEAE, and for which more than 1.2 million signatures were collected.
The new EU research agenda for 2025–2027 places a clear focus on accelerating animal-free innovations in biomedicine. Through the targeted promotion of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)—innovative technologies such as organ-on-chip systems or AI models—animal-free methods are to be more widely established and implemented across the EU. Planned measures include the development of Europe-wide infrastructures, faster regulatory recognition of NAMs, and improved training for scientists. Another goal is to increase transparency and facilitate access to protocols for NAMs. For the practical implementation of this strategy, the EU is providing around €2.9 million solely for Europe-wide coordination. This will be complemented by substantial research investments: an additional funding pool totalling €49 million is specifically reserved to advance the integration of NAMs into biomedical practice and regulatory assessment.
Following the European Commission’s commitment in 2023, the initiative went through the political process until the final Council recommendation on 24 June 2025. The program—joined by 17 EU Member States and four additional countries, including Norway and Switzerland—is designed to run for three years, from December 2025 to January 2029.
“The anchoring of NAMs as an ERA Action is the result of years of advocacy. We made it clear to the Commission that European research will fall behind global leaders unless it transitions to human-relevant methods,” explains Dr. Tamara Zietek, Science CEO at DAAE.
Despite welcoming this progress, the association remains critical: “It is an important partial success, but we would have liked to see much stronger commitments and greater determination regarding the complete abolition of animal experiments,” Zietek adds. “Ultimately, responsibility now lies with the Member States. We particularly call on Germany to show political courage in moving in the right direction and to implement the EU’s plans ambitiously, rather than continuing to slow down this transition.”
References
Council Recommendation of 24 June 2025 on the European Research Area Policy Agenda 2025-2027
Commission adopts proposal for the next European Research Area Policy Agenda 2025-2027