The annual meeting of the four EU Reference Centres for Animal Welfare (EURCAWs) will take place on 13–14 May, 2025, in Heraklion, Crete.

Representatives from EURCAW Aqua, EURCAW Ruminants & Equines, EURCAW Poultry-SFA, and EURCAW-Pigs will come together to share experiences, foster collaboration, and define common priorities for the future of animal welfare across Europe. This important European event marks the first time that leading scientists from across the European Union, dedicated to advancing animal welfare, will convene in Greece.

This year’s location— where land meets sea — reflects the diverse environments and species the Centres are working to protect. The meeting promises two days of constructive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and renewed commitment to improving animal welfare in the EU.

EURCAW-Aqua, established in 2024, is the European reference point for the welfare of fish, cephalopods, and decapods, focusing on farmed species of particular importance to European food production.

The University of Crete coordinates the project, in collaboration with the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, with the support of the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.eurcaw-aqua.eu/