Discussing strategic priorities with the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council
FAO and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which took office on 1 January, have been working to establish a relationship of close collaboration, planning together for a number of joint initiatives in 2021. FAO Brussels Director Rodrigo de Lapuerta was invited by the Presidency to present FAO’s upcoming work priorities to the Council Coordination Working Party on FAO Matters (AGRIFAO) on 29 January.
During his presentation on the 29th, FAO Brussels Director extended his thanks to Germany, which held the Presidency during the last semester of 2020, for the excellent collaboration in recent months and highlighted major themes, activities and key joint events on the agenda for the first semester of 2021.
The discussion with European Union Member State Representatives covered various topics, including FAO’s upcoming Strategic Dialogue with the European Union in March 2021 and the new FAO Strategic framework.
The impact of COVID-19 on food and agriculture as well as the preparations for the UN Food Systems Summit, which will take place in the second semester of 2021, were also at the heart of the exchanges.
FAO Brussels is giving regular updates to the various Working Parties of the Council of the European Union.
In January, FAO Brussels and the Portuguese Presidency also co-organized a high-level dialogue entitled, Territorial Food Systems and Healthy Diets: Pathways for Global Transformations.