The group said the directive would prevent member states from implementing even tougher regulations if they wished.

BBC: Animal welfare laws

The key causes included group cohesion, directive leadership and ideological homogeneity.

FORBES

The animal protection group Humane Society International said the new directive would still not prevent "severe suffering" in certain types of animal testing.

BBC: EU tightens rules on welfare of lab animals

Chris Howe, head of future landscape for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), says the group has been campaigning for stricter application of the Habitats Directive for all member states, since its introduction in 1992.

BBC: UK 'failing to protect wildlife'

The investigations were overseen by the Article 29 Working Party, a group of representatives from each member state tasked with promoting the application of the EU's Data Protection Directive.

BBC: Google privacy policy rethink demanded by EU