FAO Brussels Director presents key priorities at the Council of the European Union

At the invitation of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al-Khafaji presented FAO’s priorities for upcoming collaboration with the EU to the Council Coordination Working Party on FAO Matters.

He presented the Organization’s recently adopted Strategic Framework for the next decade and its focus on supporting Agenda 2030 by working for better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life; highlighting the numerous points of convergence with the European Union’s main strategies.

Furthermore, he alluded to ongoing cooperation between the EU and FAO and future priority themes including resilience, food loss and waste, pollinators, smart villages, as well as the management of natural resources and water; noting that the European Green Deal and FAO’s Strategic Framework played a key role in identifying these joint areas of action.  

The Director also briefed EU Member State Representatives on the EU-FAO Strategic Dialogue, which underscores the desire of both parties to jointly advance the transformation of agri-food systems by enhancing collaboration and realigning priorities. Al-Khafaji also outlined FAO’s ongoing work in Afghanistan and its work to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on agri-food systems. His presentation also included an overview of the fruitful collaboration between FAO and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first semester of 2021.