In her State of the Union Address in September 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, a process of consultation among key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, civil society, rural communities, and academia, which began in January 2024. The outcomes of this consultation were compiled in the Report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, a document delivered on September 4 to President von der Leyen, containing a series of recommendations for European agricultural and food policies.
The head of the EU Commission committed to reviewing the recommendations of the Report to identify those to be translated into concrete measures within the first hundred days of her mandate. Among the priorities, she assured the launch of a new platform to stabilize the dialogue among stakeholders, civil society, and the scientific community on how to make agri-food systems more sustainable from an environmental, economic, and social perspective, now materializing with the European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF). Additionally, von der Leyen had announced, as a commitment for the first hundred days, the presentation of a new EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, a strategic document that the Vice-President for Cohesion, Raffaele Fitto, and the Agriculture Commissioner, Christophe Hansen, are expected to present in Brussels on February 19.
Call for Selecting Members of the EBAF, the European Board on Agriculture and Food
A crucial step towards presenting the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, the European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF), launched on December 4 by the EU Executive, is an advisory body chaired by Commissioner Hansen. It aims to support a new culture of dialogue, trust, and participation among food chain actors and civil society and between them and the Commission, promote the exchange of experiences and synergy between Union policies, and provide high-level advice to the Commission on the follow-up to the Report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture.
The Agriculture and Food Council will consist of up to 30 organizations representing three different categories of stakeholders: the agricultural community; other actors in the food chain; and civil society, including sectors such as environment and climate, animal welfare, or consumer issues.
Concurrently with the launch of the initiative, on December 4, the Commission published a call for applications to join the Council, followed by the selection of members to ensure balanced representation of the parties. Organizations applying for membership must demonstrate the broadest relevant expertise and competence in areas pertinent to agriculture and food at the Union level and show the widest geographical representation among Member States. They should also be registered in the EU Transparency Register.
The Board, established for five years, is expected to meet in principle from two to six times a year, but with the possibility for Commissioner Hansen to convene the group for additional meetings if urgent advice is needed.
The deadline for submitting applications to join the ABEF is set for January 8, 2025. The finalization of the committee's composition is expected at the beginning of 2025, with the first meeting convened immediately thereafter.
View the call for applications
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