14/07/2025
Key takeaways from Professor Alberto Alemanno’s keynote to over 100 animal protection organisations
On 25 June, our founder, Professor Alberto Alemanno, addressed Eurogroup for Animals’ annual conference in Brussels, speaking to over 100 organisations from across Europe. His central question: how is the new global disorder affecting European advocacy, and what can civil society do about it?
The Challenge
The post-war order that provided stability for European civil society has collapsed. Europe’s traditional dependencies—cheap Russian energy, expansive Chinese markets, and reliable US security—are gone, for good
Worse still is the “hidden convergence”: whilst EU institutions speak of multilateralism and climate action, policy directions increasingly mirror authoritarian governance models. Recent examples like the delay of the deforestation law and the likely withdrawal of anti-greenwashing legislation would have been unthinkable just years ago.
For advocacy organisations, this creates reduced institutional access, diminished policy salience, and weakening democratic accountability.
The Solution: Strategic Antagonism
Rather than despair, Professor Alemanno offered a roadmap centred on five key adaptations:
1. Double down on institutional participation, including the underused European Citizens’ Initiatives
As Professor Alemanno emphasised: “The ECI is a powerful, legal tool at our disposal to call for change as Europeans. Let’s keep using it until our demands are heard!”
Recent successes prove the point. Fur Free Europe gathered over 1.5 million signatures, whilst Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics surpassed 1.2 million. These campaigns show European citizens will mobilise when given direct democratic channels, with the EU Commissioner expressly committing to deliver on those.
2. Embrace Strategic Antagonism
“Less access calls for more antagonism.” When traditional lobbying becomes constrained, civil society must complement institutional engagement with legal challenges, public campaigns, and strategic media use. The ongoing Transport Regulation campaign exemplifies this—combining parliamentary work with direct citizen mobilisation.
3. Amplify Above the Noise
“Less salience calls for greater noise.” In a crisis-dominated political environment, advocacy organisations must work harder to cut through competing demands on attention through professional communications and compelling narratives.
4. Build Mass Movements
“Less institutional support calls for greater public support.” Rather than relying on institutional access, build movements politicians cannot ignore. Commissioner Várhelyi’s video commitment to animal welfare at the conference demonstrates that sustained public pressure still influences institutional priorities.
5. Foster Collaboration
Lessons from Slovenia shared at the conference showed that the most effective advocacy combines civil society expertise with citizen engagement, industry dialogue, and policymaker collaboration.
Reasons for Hope
Despite challenges, opportunities remain. The recent cats and dogs protection legislation success opened doors to EU-wide positive lists. Awards at the conference to Kalverliefde (for innovative dairy farming) and MEP Niels Fuglsang (for transport advocacy) show progressive approaches can gain institutional support.
The Bigger Picture
As Eurogroup for Animals President Philip Lymbery noted, “Forty years ago, the first animal welfare legislation passed in the EU. Now it’s time for full revision to align with latest science and citizens’ demands.”
This reflects broader recognition across civil society that strategic adaptation is essential. Eurogroup for Animals—45 years old with 105 member organisations—is actively reviewing its 2030 strategy to respond to the new political environment.
The Choice Ahead
Professor Alemanno’s keynote concluded with a clear message: the choice between adaptation and irrelevance is ours to make, but the window is narrowing.
The tools remain available: ECIs, parliamentary engagement through petitions, legal challenges, public campaigns. Success requires using them with the strategic sophistication these unprecedented times demand.
At The Good Lobby, we’re committed to supporting this adaptation through training programmes and strategic consulting designed for Europe’s new reality.
For organisations seeking strategic support in adapting to Europe’s changing advocacy landscape, The Good Lobby offers specialised training and consulting services.