Citizens are calling on the European Parliament to take action against the pilot whale hunts in the Faroe Islands. Many citizens have written to the Members of the European Parliament dealing with environmental issues and to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since June 2025. They are asking them to condemn these hunts and advocate for robust protective policies.
We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the Members and to the President:
Main elements of our reply
EU law, whaling and the Faroe Islands
The European Union (EU) is strongly opposed to the hunting of whales, dolphins and porpoises. The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU recognises animals as sentient beings and calls for their welfare requirements to be fully taken into account. Within the EU, laws protects whales, dolphins and porpoises against hunting, capture and captivity, and against deliberate disturbance or trade, including products originating from non-EU countries.
However, the Faroe Islands’ decision to allow the hunting of whales falls outside the EU’s jurisdiction. As a self-governing territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union. EU legislation does not apply in the Faroe Islands.
The European Union nevertheless continues to advocate for an end to Faroese whaling through diplomatic engagement and the European Commission has expressed concern about Faroese whale hunting to the Danish authorities.
European Parliament
In 2021, the European Parliament urged the Faroe Islands to halt its controversial annual hunt of pilot whales, known as the grindadráp. Parliament called on the European Commission and EU countries to engage consistently with the Faroe Islands on this issue with a view to the abolition of the practice. In 2022, Parliament stressed the importance of protecting whale populations, both from a biodiversity and a climate perspective.
Members have submitted parliamentary questions to the European Commission on the topic, most recently in May 2025 (the reply will be available on the top right under ‘Answer in writing’).
As far as we are aware, the European Parliament has not received a petition on this topic recently. However, all European citizens and residents are welcome to submit a petition. You can also contact the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals. Please bear in mind that the Intergroup is not an official parliamentary body.
Background
Citizens often send messages to the President and the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.
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